Glossary · Law and contract
Duty of disclosure (Offenlegungspflicht)
The seller's duty to disclose known defects and important documents to the buyer before the sale.
How far it goes differs widely between countries. Some require extensive reports, others know almost no duty and leave the risk with the buyer. If a document that is owed is missing, it can delay the sale or give rise to damages.
Where it appears in the report
What the seller must disclose per country, and what a gap costs, is shown on the disclosure page.
Common questions about it
Must the seller tell me about defects unprompted?
That depends on the country. Where a duty exists, known defects must not be concealed, and where none exists, the buyer bears the risk.
Related terms in the glossary
Last updated: 2026-09-15