Source: http://www.tahoemls.com/new-laws-affecting-california-realtors/
Timestamp: 2018-06-24 03:14:19
Document Index: 604474009

Matched Legal Cases: ['§1938', '§ 10140', '§ 464', '§ 1954', '§17922', '§ 517', '§ 2079', '§ 798', '§ 18092', '§ 5832']

New Laws Affecting California REALTORS® | Tahoe Sierra Board of Realtors
by Heather | Oct 26, 2016 | C.A.R., Legal, TSBOR, TSMLS | 0 comments
This summary provides only a sampling of the more significant laws affecting REALTORS®. For a more complete list, please see our “2017 New Laws” posted at car.org.
Commercial Leasing Disclosure re CASp may be Required: Beginning September 17, 2016, if a commercial property has been issued an inspection report by a Certified Access Specialist (CASp), indicating that it meets applicable construction-related accessibility standards, the commercial property owner or lessor shall provide a copy within seven days of execution of the lease. If no such report has been issued, then a specific disclosure statement on the lease form would be required. Prior to signing the lease, the prospective lessee has the right to review an inspection report issued by a CASp, if one exists, and may cancel the lease within 72 hours after signing based on the report. (AB 2093, Civil Code §1938.)
Advertising Uniform Standards Effective 2018: This law reduces the complexity of the current system by implementing a relatively simple set of rules as to what information must be placed on an advertisement. Beginning 2018, a sales-agent or broker-associate will be required to include three items in their solicitation materials: name, license number, and their responsible broker’s name (the broker’s license number is optional). This law applies to any solicitation materials intended to be the first point of contact with a consumer and includes business cards; stationery; advertising flyers; advertisements on television, in print or electronic media; and “for sale,” “open house,” rent, lease and directional signs when any sales agent or broker-associate identifying information is included. There are exceptions for “for sale,” “open house,” rent, lease and directional signs when 1) no sales agent or broker-associate identifying information is included, or when 2) only the broker’s name is included. For example, under this exception you could have a completely generic directional sign or even one that includes only the broker’s name. In an effort to provide some lead time to allow agents to adjust their advertisements to this C.A.R. sponsored law, it does not go into effect until January 1, 2018. (AB 1650, B&P Code § 10140.6.)
Licensing — Eliminates References to “Salesmen”; Restriction on Issuance of License for Person Previously Cited: The Real Estate Law includes outdated terminology that does not reflect both genders. Effective January 1, 2017, this C.A.R. sponsored law makes some necessary technical corrections, which include eliminating references to “salesman” and “salesmen” and instead replacing those with “salesperson” and “salespersons,” respectively. This law also prohibits issuance of a real estate license to a person who was cited for the illegal practice of real estate and either the terms of the citation have not been complied with or an unpaid fine remains outstanding. (AB 685.)
Licensing – Retired Status: Beginning January 1, 2017, this law authorizes any of the boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs, including CalBRE, to establish by regulation a system for a retired category of license for persons who are not actively engaged in the practice of their profession or vocation. This law does not require boards to offer a retired license. (AB 2859, B&P Code § 464.)
Water Submetering Effective 2018: This law requires any new construction multi-unit property built after January 1, 2018 to have submeters. For such properties, the landlord is required to bill incrementally for water usage with a fairly detailed set of rules governing how a landlord goes about that. This law also impacts multi-unit residential properties built prior to January 1, 2018 where the property has a submeter, and the landlord bills separately for water using the submeter. If so, then the landlord will be required to follow that same detailed set of rules, commencing 2018. (SB 7, Civil Code §§ 1954.201 et seq., Health and Safety §17922.14, and Water Code §§ 517 and 537 et seq.)
Disclosures Liability Protections of the Environmental Hazards Booklet Extended to Landlords: Beginning January 1, 2017, this C.A.R. sponsored bill extends liability protections for delivery of the Residential Environmental Hazards booklet to include leases of more than one year. The delivery of this booklet is deemed legally adequate to inform the lessee regarding common environmental hazards such as asbestos, formaldehyde, hazardous waste, household hazardous waste, lead, mold and radon, and additional general information on these issues is not required (unless the broker or landlord has actual knowledge). The delivery of this booklet remains optional. (AB 1750, Civil Code § 2079.13.)
Other New California Laws Affecting Real Property – Effective January 1, 2017
Mobile Homes — Three Year Temporary Waiver Program for Taxes and HCD Charges: AB 587 requires waiver of all vehicle license registration fees (VLF) by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) against a person who is not currently the registered owner of a manufactured home or mobilehome prior to transfer of title. If the manufactured home or mobile home is subject to local property taxation then HCD must issue a conditional transfer of title and a county tax collector would be required to issue a tax liability certificate for payment of the taxes owed from the date of sale only. This window for waiver of charges and taxes expires at the end of 2019. (Civil Code § 798.15, Health and Safety Code §§ 18092.7, 181161.1, 18550 and 18550.1 and Revenue and Taxation Code § 5832.)