Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 73 - PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS (§§ 73-1-1 — 73-79-1) › Chapter 35 - REAL ESTATE BROKERS (§§ 73-35-1 — 73-35-105) › IN GENERAL (§§ 73-35-1 — 73-35-37) › Section 73-35-4.1 - Disclosure of information concerning size or area of property involved in real estate transaction; liability; remedy for violation of section; disclosure of information required to be disclosed by Sections 89-1-501 through 89-1-523

(1)
(a)
In connection with any real estate transaction, the size or area, in square footage or otherwise, of the subject property, if provided by any real estate licensee in accordance with paragraph (b)(i) and (ii), shall not be considered any warranty or guarantee of the size or area information, in square footage or otherwise, of the subject property.
(b)
(i)
If a real estate licensee provides any party to a real estate transaction with third-party information concerning the size or area, in square footage or otherwise, of the subject property involved in the transaction, the licensee shall identify the source of the information.
(ii)
For the purposes of this section, "third-party information" means:
1.
An appraisal or any measurement information prepared by a licensed appraiser;
2.
A surveyor developer's plan prepared by a licensed surveyor;
3.
A tax assessor's public record; or
4.
A builder's plan used to construct or market the property.
(c)
A real estate licensee has no duty to the seller or purchaser of real property to conduct an independent investigation of the size or area, in square footage or otherwise, of a subject property, or to independently verify the accuracy of any third-party information.
(d)
A real estate licensee who has complied with the requirements of this section, as applicable, shall have no further duties to the seller or purchaser of real property regarding disclosed or undisclosed property size or area information, and shall not be subject to liability to any party for any damages sustained with regard to any conflicting measurements or opinions of size or area, including exemplary or punitive damages.
(2)
(a)
If a real estate licensee has provided third-party information to any party to a real estate transaction concerning size or area of the subject real property, a party to the real estate transaction may recover damages from the licensee in a civil action only when a licensee knowingly violates the duty to disclose the source of the information as required in this section. However, nothing in this section shall provide immunity from civil liability to any licensee who knowingly misrepresents the size or area of the subject real property.
(b)
The sole and exclusive civil remedy at common law or otherwise for a violation of this section by a real estate licensee shall be an action for actual damages suffered by the party as a result of such violation and shall not include exemplary or punitive damages.
(c)
For any real estate transaction commenced after the effective date of this section, any civil action brought pursuant to this section shall be commenced within two (2) years after the date of transfer of the subject real property.
(d)
In any civil action brought pursuant to this section, the prevailing party shall be allowed court costs and reasonable attorney fees to be set by the court and collected as costs of the action.
(e)
A transfer of a possessory interest in real property subject to the provisions of this section may not be invalidated solely because of the failure of any person to comply with the provisions of this section.
(f)
The provisions of this section shall apply to, regulate and determine the rights, duties, obligations and remedies, at common law or otherwise, of the seller marketing the seller's real property for sale through a real estate licensee, and of the purchaser of real property offered for sale through a real estate licensee, with respect to disclosure of third-party information concerning the subject real property's size or area, in square footage or otherwise, and this section hereby supplants and abrogates all common-law liability, rights, duties, obligations and remedies of all parties therefor.
(3)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no real estate licensee shall have any duty or obligation nor be subject to discipline or other action of any kind by any licensing authority of the State of Mississippi, pertaining to information required to be disclosed by Sections
89-1-501
through
89-1-523
or delivery of information required to be disclosed by Sections
89-1-501
through
89-1-523
.
(4)
The Mississippi Real Estate Commission shall not promulgate any rule or regulation, nor make any administrative or other interpretation, whereby any real estate licensee may be held responsible or subject to discipline or other actions by the commission relating to the provisions of this section or the information required to be disclosed by Sections
89-1-501
through
89-1-523
or delivery of information required to be disclosed by Sections
89-1-501
through
89-1-523
.
Amended by Laws, 2023, ch. 385, SB 2647,§ 1, eff. 3/14/2023.
Added by Laws, 2013, ch. 500, SB 2171, 1, eff. 7/1/2013.