Colorado § 38-35.7-103 - Disclosure - methamphetamine laboratory.

§ 38-35.7-103. Disclosure - methamphetamine laboratory.

(1) A buyer of residential real property has the right to test the property for the purpose of determining whether the property has ever been used as a methamphetamine laboratory.

(2) (a) Tests conducted pursuant to this section shall be performed by a certified industrial hygienist or industrial hygienist, as those terms are defined in section 24-30-1402, C.R.S., and in accordance with the procedures and standards established by rules of the state board of health promulgated pursuant to section 25-18.5-102, C.R.S. If the buyer's test results indicate that the property has been contaminated with methamphetamine or other contaminants for which standards have been established pursuant to section 25-18.5-102, C.R.S., and has not been remediated to meet the standards established by rules of the state board of health promulgated pursuant to section 25-18.5-102, C.R.S., the buyer shall promptly give written notice to the seller of the results of the test, and the buyer may terminate the contract. The contract shall not limit the rights to test the property or to cancel the contract based upon the result of the tests.

(b) The seller shall have thirty days after receipt of the notice to conduct a second independent test. If the seller's test results indicate that the property has been used as a methamphetamine laboratory but has not been remediated to meet the standards established by rules of the state board of health promulgated pursuant to section 25-18.5-102, C.R.S., then the second independent hygienist shall so notify the seller.

(c) If the seller receives a notice under this subsection (2) and does not elect to have the property retested under this subsection (2), then an illegal drug laboratory used to manufacture methamphetamine has been discovered. Nothing in this section prohibits a buyer from purchasing the property and assuming liability under section 25-18.5-103, C.R.S., if, on the date of closing, the buyer provides notice to the department of public health and environment and governing body of the purchase and assumption of liability and if the remediation required by section 25-18.5-103, C.R.S., is completed within ninety days after the date of closing.

(3) (a) Except as specified in subsection (4) of this section, the seller shall disclose in writing to the buyer whether the seller knows that the property was previously used as a methamphetamine laboratory.

(b) A seller who fails to make a disclosure required by this section at or before the time of sale and who knew of methamphetamine production on the property is liable to the buyer for:

(I) Costs relating to remediation of the property according to the standards established by rules of the state board of health promulgated pursuant to section 25-18.5-102, C.R.S.;

(II) Costs relating to health-related injuries occurring after the sale to residents of the property caused by methamphetamine production on the property; and

(III) Reasonable attorney fees for collection of costs from the seller.

(c) A buyer shall commence an action under this subsection (3) within three years after the date on which the buyer closed the purchase of the property where the methamphetamine production occurred.

(4) If the seller becomes aware that the property was an illegal methamphetamine drug laboratory, remediates the property in accordance with the standards established pursuant to section 25-18.5-102, and receives certificates of compliance under section 25-18.5-102 (1)(e), then:

(a) The seller is not required to disclose that the property was used as an illegal methamphetamine drug laboratory to a buyer; and

(b) Five years after the later date on the certificates of compliance issued pursuant to section 25-18.5-102 (1)(e), the property is no longer included in the database listing properties that have been used as an illegal methamphetamine drug laboratory in accordance with section 25-18.5-106 (2).

(5) For purposes of this section, "residential real property" or "property" includes a manufactured home; mobile home; condominium; townhome; home sold by the owner, a financial institution, or the federal department of housing and urban development; rental property, including an apartment; and short-term residence such as a motel or hotel.

Source: L. 2006: Entire section added, p. 712, § 1, effective January 1, 2007. L. 2009: (2)(a) amended, (SB 09-060), ch. 140, p. 601, § 3, effective April 20. L. 2013: (2)(c) and (4) amended, (SB 13-219), ch. 293, p. 1570, § 2, effective August 7. L. 2023: (4) and (5) amended, (SB 23-148), ch. 326, p. 1958, § 5, effective August 7.