2023 California Code
Health and Safety Code - HSC
DIVISION 13 - HOUSING
PART 1.5 - REGULATION OF BUILDINGS USED FOR HUMAN HABITATION
CHAPTER 5 - Administration and Enforcement
ARTICLE 3 - Actions and Proceedings
Section 17980.7.
17980.7. If the owner fails to comply within a reasonable time with the terms of the order or notice issued pursuant to Section 17980.6, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The enforcement agency may seek and the court may order imposition of the penalties provided for under Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 17995).
(b) (1) The enforcement agency may seek and the court may order the owner to not claim any deduction with respect to state taxes for interest, taxes, expenses, depreciation, or amortization paid or incurred with respect to the cited structure, in the taxable year of the initial order or notice, in lieu of the enforcement agency processing a violation in accordance with Sections 17274 and 24436.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(2) If the owner fails to comply with the terms of the order or notice to correct the condition that caused the violation pursuant to Section 17980.6, the court may order the owner to not claim these tax benefits for the following year.
(c) The enforcement agency, tenant, or tenant association or organization may seek and the court may order, the appointment of a receiver for the substandard building pursuant to this subdivision. In its petition to the court, the enforcement agency, tenant, or tenant association or organization shall include proof that notice of the petition was posted in a prominent place on the substandard building and mailed first-class mail to all persons with a recorded interest in the real property upon which the substandard building exists not less than three days prior to filing the petition. The petition shall be served on the owner pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 415.10) of Chapter 4 of Title 5 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(1) In appointing a receiver, the court shall consider whether the owner has been afforded a reasonable opportunity to correct the conditions cited in the notice of violation.
(2) The court shall not appoint any person as a receiver unless the person has demonstrated to the court their capacity and expertise to develop and supervise a viable financial and construction plan for the satisfactory rehabilitation of the building. A court may appoint as a receiver a nonprofit organization or community development corporation. In addition to the duties and powers that may be granted pursuant to this section, the nonprofit organization or community development corporation may also apply for grants to assist in the rehabilitation of the building.
(3) If a receiver is appointed, the owner and the owner’s agent of the substandard building shall be enjoined from collecting rents from the tenants, interfering with the receiver in the operation of the substandard building, and encumbering or transferring the substandard building or real property upon which the building is situated.
(4) Any receiver appointed pursuant to this section shall have all of the following powers and duties in the order of priority listed in this paragraph, unless the court otherwise permits:
(A) To take full and complete control of the substandard property.
(B) To manage the substandard building and pay expenses of the operation of the substandard building and real property upon which the building is located, including taxes, insurance, utilities, general maintenance, and debt secured by an interest in the real property.
(C) To secure a cost estimate and construction plan from a licensed contractor for the repairs necessary to correct the conditions cited in the notice of violation.
(D) To enter into contracts and employ a licensed contractor as necessary to correct the conditions cited in the notice of violation.
(E) To collect all rents and income from the substandard building.
(F) To use all rents and income from the substandard building to pay for the cost of rehabilitation and repairs determined by the court as necessary to correct the conditions cited in the notice of violation.
(G) To borrow funds to pay for repairs necessary to correct the conditions cited in the notice of violation and to borrow funds to pay for any relocation benefits authorized by paragraph (6) and, with court approval, secure that debt and any moneys owed to the receiver for services performed pursuant to this section with a lien on the real property upon which the substandard building is located. The lien shall be recorded in the county recorder’s office in the county within which the building is located.
(H) To exercise the powers granted to receivers under Section 568 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(5) The receiver shall be entitled to the same fees, commissions, and necessary expenses as receivers in actions to foreclose mortgages.
(6) If the conditions of the premises or the repair or rehabilitation thereof significantly affect the safe and sanitary use of the substandard building by any tenant, to the extent that the tenant cannot safely reside in their unit, then the receiver shall provide relocation benefits in accordance with subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (d).
(7) The relocation compensation provided for in this section shall not preempt any local ordinance that provides for greater relocation assistance.
(8) In addition to any reporting required by the court, the receiver shall prepare monthly reports to the state or local enforcement agency which shall contain information on at least the following items:
(A) The total amount of rent payments received.
(B) Nature and amount of contracts negotiated relative to the operation or repair of the property.
(C) Payments made toward the repair of the premises.
(D) Progress of necessary repairs.
(E) Other payments made relative to the operation of the building.
(F) Amount of tenant relocation benefits paid.
(9) The receiver shall be discharged when the conditions cited in the notice of violation have been remedied in accordance with the court order or judgment and a complete accounting of all costs and repairs has been delivered to the court. Upon removal of the condition, the owner, the mortgagee, or any lienor of record may apply for the discharge of all moneys not used by the receiver for removal of the condition and all other costs authorized by this section.
(10) After discharging the receiver, the court may retain jurisdiction for a time period not to exceed 18 consecutive months, and require the owner and the enforcement agency responsible for enforcing Section 17980 to report to the court in accordance with a schedule determined by the court.
(11) The prevailing party in an action pursuant to this section shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs as may be fixed by the court.
(12) The county recorder may charge and collect fees for the recording of all notices and other documents required by this section pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 27360) of Chapter 6 of Division 2 of Title 3 of the Government Code.
(13) This section shall not be construed to limit those rights available to tenants and owners under any other provision of the law.
(14) This section shall not be construed to deprive an owner of a substandard building of all procedural due process rights guaranteed by the California Constitution and the United States Constitution, including, but not limited to, receipt of notice of the violation claimed and an adequate and reasonable period of time to comply with any orders which are issued by the enforcement agency or the court.
(15) Upon the request of a receiver, a court may require the owner of the property to pay all unrecovered costs associated with the receivership in addition to any other remedy authorized by law.
(d) If the court finds that a building is in a condition which substantially endangers the health and safety of residents pursuant to Section 17980.6, upon the entry of any order or judgment, the court shall do all of the following:
(1) Order the owner to pay all reasonable and actual costs of the enforcement agency including, but not limited to, inspection costs, investigation costs, enforcement costs, attorney fees or costs, and all costs of prosecution.
(2) Order that the local enforcement agency shall provide the tenant with notice of the court order or judgment.
(3) (A) Order that if the owner undertakes repairs or rehabilitation as a result of being cited for a notice under this chapter, and if the conditions of the premises or the repair or rehabilitation thereof significantly affect the safe and sanitary use of the premises by any lawful tenant, so that the tenant cannot safely reside in the premises, then the owner shall provide or pay relocation benefits to each lawful tenant. These benefits shall consist of actual reasonable moving and storage costs and relocation compensation. The actual moving and storage costs shall consist of all of the following:
(i) Transportation of the tenant’s personal property to the new location. The new location shall be in close proximity to the substandard premises, except where relocation to a new location beyond a close proximity is determined by the court to be justified.
(ii) Packing, crating, unpacking, and uncrating the tenant’s personal property.
(iii) Insurance of the tenant’s property while in transit.
(iv) The reasonable replacement value of property lost, stolen, or damaged (not through the fault or negligence of the displaced person, their agent, or their employee) in the process of moving, where insurance covering the loss, theft, or damage is not reasonably available.
(v) The cost of disconnecting, dismantling, removing, reassembling, reconnecting, and reinstalling machinery, equipment, or other personal property of the tenant, including connection charges imposed by utility companies for starting utility service.
(B) (i) The relocation compensation shall be an amount equal to the differential between the contract rent and the fair market rental value determined by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development for a unit of comparable size within the area for the period that the unit is being repaired, not to exceed 120 days.
(ii) If the court finds that a tenant has been substantially responsible for causing or substantially contributing to the substandard conditions, then the relocation benefits of this section shall not be paid to this tenant. Each other tenant on the premises who has been ordered to relocate due to the substandard conditions and who is not substantially responsible for causing or contributing to the conditions shall be paid these benefits and moving costs at the time that the tenant actually relocates.
(4) Determine the date when the tenant is to relocate, and order the tenant to notify the enforcement agency and the owner of the address of the premises to which the tenant has relocated within five days after the relocation.
(5) (A) Order that the owner shall offer the first right to occupancy of the premises to each tenant who received benefits pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3), before letting the unit for rent to a third party. The owner’s offer on the first right to occupancy to the tenant shall be in writing, and sent by first-class certified mail to the address given by the tenant at the time of relocation. If the owner has not been provided the tenant’s address by the tenant as prescribed by this section, the owner shall not be required to provide notice under this section or offer the tenant the right to return to occupancy.
(B) The tenant shall notify the owner in writing that the tenant will occupy the unit. The notice shall be sent by first-class certified mail no later than 10 days after the notice has been mailed by the owner.
(6) Order that failure to comply with any abatement order under this chapter shall be punishable by civil contempt, penalties under Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 17995), and any other penalties and fines as are available.
(e) The initiation of a proceeding or entry of a judgment pursuant to this section or Section 17980.6 shall be deemed to be a “proceeding” or “judgment” as provided by paragraph (4) or (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 1942.5 of the Civil Code.
(f) The term “owner,” for the purposes of this section, shall include the owner, including any public entity that owns residential real property, at the time of the initial notice or order and any successor in interest who had actual or constructive knowledge of the notice, order, or prosecution.
(g) These remedies shall be in addition to those provided by any other law.
(h) This section and Section 17980.6 shall not impair the rights of an owner exercising the owner’s rights established pursuant to Chapter 12.75 (commencing with Section 7060) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 620, Sec. 4. (AB 957) Effective October 8, 2019.)
