The Legislature finds and declares that the subject of housing is of vital importance to the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of this state, for the following reasons:
(a) Decent housing is an essential motivating force in helping people achieve self-fulfillment in a free and democratic society.
(b) Unsanitary, unsafe, overcrowded, or congested dwelling accommodations constitute conditions which cause an increase in and spread of, disease and crime.
(c) A healthy housing market is one in which residents of this state have a choice of housing opportunities and one in which the housing consumer may effectively choose within the free marketplace.
(Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 1069.)