Surrey Ridge Community AssociationBuying, selling, and renting
Flood history before buying or renting
Know which flood disclosure to request, what to ask about a property's history, and why a disclosure and an insurance policy answer different questions.
Before buying or selling a home
Florida requires a seller to provide a residential property's flood disclosure at or before the sales contract is signed. It addresses the seller's knowledge of damaging flooding during ownership, flood insurance claims, and flood-related assistance. Review the disclosure before committing, and keep it with your contract.
If you are selling, gather your relevant documents and work with your real-estate professional on the required form. If you are buying, follow up on any disclosed event: when it occurred, which areas were affected, and what repairs were made. Read Florida Statutes 689.302 for the actual disclosure requirements.
Before a lease of one year or longer
Florida's residential rental rule requires a landlord to give a prospective tenant a separate flood disclosure at or before signing a rental agreement for one year or longer. The disclosure addresses known flood damage during the landlord's ownership, flood claims, and assistance received. See Florida Statutes 83.512.
Owners who rent out a Surrey Ridge home should include this step in their leasing preparation. Prospective tenants should read the disclosure before signing and ask about unresolved concerns. Keep the signed lease and disclosure together.
What should I ask after a past flood?
- When did water enter, and which rooms or parts of the property were affected?
- Are photographs, repair invoices, permits, or inspection records available?
- Was the cause investigated, and what work addressed it?
- Has water returned since the repairs?
- What further inspection would help me understand the condition today?
An answer that the owner has no knowledge of prior flooding is not a guarantee that a home has never flooded. A disclosure reports history within its scope; it does not replace an inspection or predict future conditions.
Will insurance cover my belongings or repairs?
Homeowners and renters should ask their insurance agent about flood coverage separately. Standard homeowners and renters policies generally exclude flood damage. A property disclosure does not arrange insurance or establish the coverage you will receive. Discuss the building, belongings, limits, deductible, and coverage start date with your agent. The Florida insurance preparation guide explains why this matters.
Where the Association can help
For a concern involving shared property, identify the location and observed condition when contacting the Board. Ask for relevant existing drainage or repair records through the official-records process. Keep a seller's or landlord's disclosure request directed to that person or their representative.
If you see a drainage obstruction or repeated standing water, report the exact location, time, and photographs taken from a safe place. For a proposed change to grading, landscaping, or exterior drainage, check project approval requirements before work begins. Do not assume that an Association response certifies a private home's flood history or condition.
A useful next step
Before your next purchase or lease, put three items side by side: the disclosure, your inspection questions, and your insurance quote. Resolve the gaps with the person responsible for each. For questions about your transaction documents, use your real-estate professional or attorney.