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# New law requires sellers to disclose historical status
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/new-law-requires-sellers-to-disclose-historical-status/
- Published: 2003-12-11T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:19:05.000Z
- Author: John Wood
- Tags: Government & Politics, Montana, #archive-import

*Proposition A battle still being felt in community*

Local real estate agents will be required under a new law to tell prospective home buyers if a house is considered historic.

The new ordinance, which passed Tuesday unanimously with no discussion among Santa Monica City Council members, is widely considered a protection for home buyers, many of whom have complained they were suddenly saddled with development restrictions on homes they didn’t realize were historic.

Earlier this year, the political battle over historic designations reached a zenith in the campaign over Proposition A. That proposition would have allowed homeowners to determine if their home should be marked as historic, instead of leaving the decision up to City Hall, as is done now.

How money was raised and spent became such an issue in the election that Santa Monica resident and local property rights attorney Tom Larmore accused a neighborhood group of foul play. He claimed the North of Montana Neighborhood Association funded anti-Proposition A mailers but didn’t file campaign disclosure statements before the election, as required by law.

The Fair Political Practices Committee said last month it had reviewed Larmore’s allegations and were sending NOMA officials a warning.

338,“Based on a review of the campaign statements, we have concluded that the committee had minimal activity and, thus, this matter does not rise to a level of seriousness warranting prosecution,” states a letter from Mark Krausse, executive director of committee. “However, we will be sending NOMA a warning letter regarding their conduct.”

Doris Sosin, NOMA’s temporary co-chair, said the group sent anti-Proposition A mailers with the intent of protecting the quality of life in their neighborhood, and because group members agreed the issue was pertinent.

“We did not do anything that was illegal and when we did it we were very cognizant not to use any kind of funding that came from the city,” Sosin said.

Another NOMA board member who is familiar with the FPPC complaint didn’t immediately return calls seeking comment.

Only two members of the public spoke on the ordinance at the council meeting, both praising the law as a step in the right direction.

Under the new ordinance, the owner or real estate agent representing a property being sold must disclose to potential buyers as soon as possible if it is designated as a landmark, a structure of merit, or if it contributes to a historic district. The law also requires property sellers to file a document disclosing its historic merit with City Hall.

Tom Cleys, president of the nonprofit Santa Monica Conservancy and a local real estate financier, said before the new law, the situation was problematic because home buyers often purchase real estate before they realize there are limitations on properties.

“This basically solves that problem,” Cleys said. “The average home buyer is not as knowledgeable in acquiring real estate.”

Local historian and Landmarks Commission member Roger Genser agreed.

“This ordinance really just directs the real estate industry to really make that disclosure,” he told council members. “It’s really simple, straightforward.”

Roger Genser

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 11, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/121103.pdf?ref=smdp.com)