Department means the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement. Director means the Director of the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement or the Director's designee. Federal Housing Authority Energy Efficient Mortgage means a mortgage that covers upgrades for new and existing homes and is available in fifty states. A Federal Housing Authority (FHA) loan enables a home buyer to obtain a single loan to finance both property acquisition and to complete major improvements after loan closing. Home energy audit means an evaluation of the energy efficiency of a home which includes any test or diagnostic measurement which the Department finds necessary to: ensure that a home's energy efficiency is accurately measured; or identify steps that can be taken to improve a home's energy efficiency. Single-family home means a single family residential real property improved by four or fewer single family units. This section does not apply to: The initial sale of single family residential real property that has never been occupied or for which a certificate of occupancy has been issued within one year before the seller and buyer entered into a contract of sale; A transfer that is exempt from the transfer tax under § 13-207 of the Tax-Property Article, except land installment contracts of sale under § 13-207(A)(11) of the Tax-Property Article and options to purchase real property under § 13-207(A)(12) of the Tax-Property Article; A sale by a lender or an affiliate or a subsidiary of a lender that acquired real property by foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure; A sheriff's sale, tax sale, or sale by foreclosure, partition, or court- appointed trustee; A transfer by a fiduciary in the course of the administration of a decedent's estate, guardianship, conservatorship or trust; A transfer of single family residential real property to be converted by the buyer into a use other than residential use or to be demolished; or A sale of unimproved real property.

A seller of single family residential real property shall provide, on written request, copies of electric, gas, water and sewer and home heating oil bills, or a document detailing the monthly electric, gas, water and sewer and home heating oil usage of the residential property, for the 12-month period preceding the date the contract is signed. If the seller did not occupy the single-family home for the entire prior 12 months preceding the date the contract is signed, the seller must provide the buyer, on written request, with the required information for that part of the prior 12 months, if any, that the seller occupied the single-family home. The information required under § 13-1107(a) shall be provided if the request is made at the time the contract is signed and the seller has access to the information. This section may not be construed to limit the seller from making utility information available to prospective buyers in a sale listing on the multiple listing service. The information provided under § 13-1107(a) is provided without warranties, either express or implied, including as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the information. The Department shall provide, on written request, material approved by the Department that gives information about home energy efficiency improvements, including the benefit of conducting a home energy audit. The Department shall provide, on written request, material that gives information on the Federal Housing Authority's Energy Efficient Mortgage Program (EEM) and the related Home Energy Rating Systems.

The Department shall evaluate options to encourage homeowners to conduct a home energy audit.

The Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement shall annually report to the County Council regarding utility cost disclosure and home energy audits to the extent available.