A Seller is obligated to disclose all known defects on their home to a Buyer. Whether they do so or not is a different matter. If the Seller has a copy of an inspection report they would most likely be wise to show it to a Buyer. Why risk a law suit claiming they failed to disclose known defects. If you want to get a previous report then the Seller will have to provide it to you. The real estate agent who is listing the house also has a duty to disclose known defects. Realize they are not home inspectors and only know what the Seller has told them or what they read on a previous report. They cannot lie to you or withhold information from a Buyer. A home inspector has a duty of confidentiality to the owner of that report (Usually the previous Buyer). If a Buyer who was in line before you to buy the same home got an inspection report try to hunt them down and ask for a copy. They may want to charge you for it since it may have cost them several hundred dollars to have inspections done. As a matter of risk management for agents and sellers it is always a good idea to disclose, disclose, disclose or risk winding up in a court room.