Are we liable for unpaid bills that were not disclosed to us during short sale?
My husband and I bought an investment property in Seattle, WA earlier this year. A couple of months later, we received a bill from the King CountyWastewater Treatment Division for Sewage Treatment Capacity Charge. Apparently, this bill has been accruing for the last couple of years under the previous owner. It was not disclosed during our sales process and it was not found during our short-sale escrow close out. Are we just outta luck and would have to pay the approx $1200 bill? What options do we have? by syndicatedpatti758 from Seattle, Washington. Nov 1st 2013
Phil Dumouchel (PhilDu)
#32 ranked lender in South Carolina - 2,249 contributions
This is really a legal question - recommend you talk to the attorney or title company that handled your closing. Most contracts have a clause that apportions any bills like this between the buyer and seller. Also, you might possibly be able to go to the County and ask to have it pro-rated from when you took ownership. If neither of those options work out, you might be able take the the previous owner to small claims court - but ultimately if you want sewer service you may have to pay it. Good luck!
Dave Skow (daveskow)
#15 ranked lender in Washington - 455 contributions
11/1/2013Patti .....also bring the real etate agents/ escrow agent / title insurance firms into the discussion with this question ......this bill should have been located/ discovered prior to closing ....let us know how it turns out and good luck .Dave Skow - WA MLO #278613Eagle Home Mortgage2200 6th Ave #100Seattle WA 98121w 206 714 9745 fax (877) 412 2557dskow@eaglehomemortgage.comwww.eaglehomemortgage.com/daveskow
Joe Metzler (JoeMetzler)
#17 ranked lender in Minnesota - 4,848 contributions
I hear of this all the time. Talk to the closing attorney or title company. You were supposed to have been given clear title. They should pay it, then go after the previous owner.
William J Acres (William_Acres)
#74 ranked lender in Arizona - 8,728 contributions
Your question is a bit confusing.. is this bill from a property you owned in the past that you short sold?? or is this a bill from the previous owner attached to the property you just bought?? in either scenario, if you went through a title or escrow company to complete your transaction, you should have purchased title insurance... this insurance pay's for things like this.. contact the closing agent and explain your scenario.. you probably shouldn't have to pay it.. http://bestpozitiv.ru/video/talantishhe/
Dave Metsker (DaveMetsker)
#35 ranked lender in Oregon - 2,318 contributions
The title insurance company is responsible for liens that are"of public record". Sorrowfully, certain city liens are open, but have not been filed with the county recorder.I just had that happen to one of my clients this year. Read the "exceptions' portion of your owner's title policy, and discuss this with the title company.Bottom line, pull out your check book.
Dave Skow (daveskow)
#15 ranked lender in Washington - 455 contributions
How did this turn out ?Dave Skow
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