On real estate

New laws affect residential property this year.

Senate Bill 407, approved in 2009 to conserve water, now requires all single family residences built before Jan. 1, 1994 to install water-conserving plumbing fixtures to replace noncompliant fixtures.

Noncompliant plumbing fixtures include toilets that use more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush, showerheads with a flow capacity of more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute, and any interior faucet that emits more than 2.2 gallons of water per minute.

City officials are not going to come knocking on your door to check, but homeowners who plan to add on or remodel should be aware that any improvement to a property that calls for a building permit will trigger the requirement to retrofit with compliant plumbing fixtures.

And when you sell, you must disclose non-compliant fixtures. If you want to find out if your home’s fixtures meet the code, call a licensed plumber to test fixture flow rates.

HR 3700 requires FHA to reduce the minimum owner-occupancy ratio for financing and insuring units within a HOA community from the current 50 percent to 35 percent.

FHA must also streamline the certification process to make compliance substantially less burdensome. Condo experts predict this new law could help a significant number of associations return to the FHA fold, opening up sales and purchases to a wider pool of homebuyers.

Contact your property manager to see if your association could be approved for FHA financing to boost future property values.

To address affordable housing in California, AB2299 was passed to ease regulatory barriers for the creation of accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Previously known as second units or “granny flats,” ADUs can provide affordable housing options close to home for college students, elderly parents or extended family members.

This new bill requires local governments to adopt accessory dwelling unit ordinances, and makes several changes to current ADU standards. It allows increased floor areas, reduces setback and parking requirements, and hopes to apply a clear standard for the ADU permit review process. We shall see how long it takes for city and county planning officials to adopt changes at the local level, but at least it is a start to help fill future housing needs.

And believe it or not – there is new disclosure for landlords regarding bedbugs!

On and after July 1, 2017, prior to creating a new tenancy, a landlord must provide a written notice to the prospective tenant with general information about bed bugs, and is prohibited from showing or renting vacant units if the landlord knows it has a current bedbug infestation. There is no duty to inspect if you have no reason to believe your unit has the bugs.

Adriana Donofrio Podley Properties Glendora (626) 926-9700 • adrianad@podley.com