A state law requires radon disclosure as of January 1, 2008. What do you need to know?

When a buyer and seller sign a contract on residential real estate property in Illinois on or after January 1, 2008, the new Illinois Radon Awareness Act will apply to the sales transaction. According to the new law, the seller must supply the buyer with two documents before the buyer will become bound on a contract to purchase the property. The first is a pamphlet from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) entitled "Radon Testing Guidelines for Real Estate Transactions."  The second is a form to sign called "Disclosure of Information of Radon Hazards." 

What is Radon?  Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that comes from naturally occurring uranium in the soil and is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

REALTORS® are working to educate consumers about the new radon law which affects certain residential real estate sales transactions entered on or after January 1, 2008. The law aims to boost radon awareness and does not require a radon test.

Although the new law does not require sellers to test for radon in the home or to reduce the concentration if elevated levels are found, the seller and buyer are free to negotiate whether further testing or remediation are necessary. In most cases, a seller will simply provide the two documents to the buyer before the contract takes effect.