Home Inspections & Truth-in-Sale of Housing

Obtaining a home inspection is invaluable when you compare the cost of the inspection itself to the potential cost of any unforeseen problems that may arise well after closing. Saint Paul Realty always recommends obtaining a home inspection even if the home is brand new as builders can make mistakes as well. We can recommend inspectors to you or another great resource is The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) at www.ashi.org, where a list of qualified and licensed inspectors is available based upon your area.

Another great resource for locating a highly qualified home inspector is through the Minnesota Society of Housing Inspectors (MSHI) at www.mshi.org. Please download the .pdf attachment from the link at the bottom of this page for Ten Important Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector once you choose an inspector.

In addition and equally as important; several municipalities in Minnesota require a Licensed Evaluator to perform a Truth in Housing (TIH) or a Time of Sale (TOS) evaluation report. This is required before the home is even put on the market. Please refer to the spreadsheet below to check each of the city’s requirements.  For example, the Saint Paul Truth-in-Sale of Housing ordinance requires: That an evaluation by a licensed evaluator is to be performed to say what condition a house is in. The evaluation report will list any violations and the repairs that must be made before any single-family house, duplex, townhouse, or first-time condo conversion can be shown to prospective buyers. If a Certificate of Approval is not initially issued, a re-inspection must be done after any required repairs have been completed, which is separate from the initial evaluation. Once the Certificate of Approval is issued, the disclosure report must be displayed on the property so potential buyers can review it.

Truth in Sale of Housing

This information is provided here by the City of Saint Paul.  The Truth-in-Sale of Housing ordinance is meant to provide accurate information on the condition of property for sale and to help Minneapolis keep up the quality of housing available in the city. Truths in Sale of Housing reports are valid for 2 years or one sale.

Properties Covered by Ordinance

Types of residence           Types of sales

Single-family houses Sale by owner

Duplexes Sale by real estate agent

Townhouses Real estate agent-assisted sale

First-time condo conversions Contract-for-deed

Other title transfer

Overview

The Saint Paul Truth-in-Sale of Housing (TISH) report is for "disclosure only" and is intended to provide basic information to prospective buyers of the observed conditions of a dwelling.

All single family, duplex, condominium, and townhomes are required to have a TISH evaluation completed prior to the marketing of a property for sale. Please note: A condominium that has its own Parcel Identification Number (PIN) requires a TISH even if there is a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for the property. See Ramsey County for address look up to see if your unit has its own PIN#. A C of O only covers the common areas of a building and not each individual unit. Properties that have three or more units (do not have an individual PIN#), commercial, and mixed-use buildings do not require a TISH.

You may hire a TISH evaluator through a Realtor, agent, or independently as long as the evaluator is licensed by the City of Saint Paul. TISH evaluators are not employees of the city and as such, fees for services are set by each evaluator or their employer. The city will not recommend an evaluator. Click  Schedule A TISH Inspection to find the list of licensed evaluators.

The only item that is required in single-family dwellings is the presence of an operational hard-wired smoke detector/alarm (HWSD/A).  See Chapter 58 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code.  If one is not present or is not operational, it will be marked on the report as a Hazard. The owner/seller will receive a letter from the City of Saint Paul Senior Electrical Inspector indicating they must hire a licensed electrical contractor who is required to pull a permit to install a HWSD/A. Once the alarm is installed, the electrical contractor must call the electrical inspector to finalize the permit as being in compliance.  While a HWSD/A is not required in duplex, condominium, or townhome dwellings, they are highly encouraged.

Program Highlights

• A TISH disclosure report is required to be available for viewing by any potential buyer within three calendar days of the listing of the property for sale.  The report is good for one year, or 365 consecutive days, from the date of its issuance and is valid for only one sale by the owner listed on the report.

• An alternatively accepted inspection report may be a valid Certificate of Code Compliance or a current Certificate of Occupancy.  Either certificate is also only valid for one year, or 365 consecutive days, from the date of issuance or date of last inspection.

• A TISH is not necessary for the sale of a property to Immediate Family. This includes those persons legally related to each other in a linear relationship such as grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren, and siblings. Immediate family does not include branching relationships such as aunts, uncles, or cousins.

• Time of sale is considered to be the acceptance of an offer, written or oral, to sell or otherwise change the ownership of a property, including a contract for deed, by the owner or agent of an owner of that property.  If a closing is scheduled for after the expiration date of a TISH, a new report is not required as long as such offer is made within the 365 days of the date of the report.

• A TISH evaluation is required for properties listed as a Category 1 vacant building prior to a sale.  Properties listed as Category 2 and Category 3 require a code compliance inspection be performed and have a separate set of requirements regarding the sale of such properties. See “Vacant Buildings” for complete information.

• Per Section 189.19, the failure of any owner or agent of an owner or agent of a buyer to comply with the provisions of Chapter 189 shall be a misdemeanor.

• It is in the best interest of any buyer to hire their own independent home inspector to determine all deficiencies before closing on the purchase of a property.

Saint Paul Legislative Code Relevant to the TISH Program

Chapter 189. - Truth-in-Sale of Housing
Chapter 58. - Hard-Wired Smoke Detectors
Chapter 39. - Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Alarms in Certain Buildings
Chapter 34. - Minimum Property Maintenance Standards for All Structures and Premises
Hard-Wired Smoke Detector/Alarm Requirements

Smoking Policy Disclosure Requirement

Effective January 1, 2022, Chapter 194 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code requires the completion of a Smoking Policy Disclosure form in the sale of units within a "common interest community." Common Interest Communities (CICs) include condominiums, townhomes, retirement communities and other individually owned units that share facilities and common areas. Sellers are required to inform prospective buyers of the CIC's smoking policy. A copy of the Smoking Policy Disclosure form may be found and downloaded from here. 

St Paul Truth-in-Sale of Housing Board

The TISH Board meets quarterly on the second Wednesday of January, April, July, and October from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  To become a member of the TISH Board, apply through the Mayor's website: Boards and Commissions

General Inquiries

Email: "TruthInHousing@ci.stpaul.mn.us" <TruthInHousing@ci.stpaul.mn.us>
Phone: 651-266-8989
Fax: 651-266-1919

Department of Safety and Inspections
375 Jackson St, Suite 220
Saint Paul, MN 55101
Hours: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (Mon-Fri)