Residential energy efficiency disclosure statement.

Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to prescribe, by regulation, lighting, insulation, climate control systems, and other building design and construction standards that increase efficiency in the use of energy and water for new residential and new nonresidential buildings. Existing law requires the commission to also develop a public domain computer program that enables contractors, builders, architects, engineers, and government officials to estimate the energy consumed by residential and nonresidential buildings. Existing law regulates the terms and conditions of residential tenancies and imposes various requirements on owners of residential properties and their agents. This bill would grant a prospective tenant the right to obtain from the owner of a residential dwelling unit or the owner's agent a residential energy efficiency disclosure statement for the residential unit offered. The bill also would require the owner of a residential dwelling unit or the owner's agent to make specified residential energy efficiency disclosures to a prospective tenant before entering into a rental agreement with the prospective tenant or requiring or accepting payment for specified fees or writings that would initiate a tenancy, subject to certain exceptions. The bill would make these provisions operative on January 1, 2024. The bill would require the commission, on or before December 31, 2023, to prepare a residential energy efficiency disclosure statement form for owners of residential properties and their agents to use to comply with the above-described disclosure provision, as specified. The bill would require the commission to prepare suggested energy efficiency standards for owners of residential properties and their agents and would require the commission to post and maintain the above-specified information on the internet.