SAN DIEGO — California has become the first state in the world to require home sellers to disclose the presence of third-hand smoke to potential buyers, following the Jan. 1 implementation of Assembly Bill 455.
Third-hand smoke consists of toxic chemicals from indoor cigarette smoking and vaping that accumulate on surfaces like carpets, walls, and dust.
The groundbreaking legislation was signed into law by Governor Newsom in October after passing both the state Assembly and Senate unanimously. Under AB 455, sellers must inform buyers about any known third-hand smoke hazards during real estate transactions, with failure to disclose potentially opening sellers to litigation from buyers…