Cal. HSC § 17062 — California Code / Code hsc / Division 13 / Part 1 / Chapter 6 / Section 17062
Section 17062
Status: in_force

(a)  Any state or local agency which participated in the investigation and enforcement pursuant to this part shall be reimbursed for its investigative and legal costs prior to and subsequent to the judgment.

(b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon motion by the enforcement agency, the operator, or the tenants, the court may issue an order which would result in correction of defects, rather than closure of the employee housing. The order may provide, notwithstanding subdivision (a), that fines and penalties be paid for improvements, or that a lien be levied against the property to pay the costs of an independent receiver to complete repairs, or any other just and reasonable procedures.

(c)  (1)  (A)  If employee housing is maintained in a manner that violates any provision of this part, including any rule, standard, or regulation promulgated pursuant to this part, and the violation is so extensive and of such a nature that the health and safety of residents or the public is substantially endangered, and if the owner or operator does not, within a reasonable time after issuance of the notice or order by the enforcement agency, correct the condition that is the cause of the violation, the enforcement agency, tenant, or tenant association or organization may, in addition to any other remedies provided by law, seek the appointment of a receiver pursuant to this subdivision.

(B)  In its petition to the court, the enforcement agency, tenant, or tenant association or organization shall include proof that notice of the petition was served not less than five days prior to filing the petition, pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 415.10) of Chapter 4 of Title 5 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, to all persons with a recorded interest in the real property upon which the substandard employee housing exists.

(C)  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. The court shall not appoint any person as a receiver unless the person has demonstrated to the court his or her capacity, willingness, and expertise to develop and supervise a viable financial and construction plan for the satisfactory rehabilitation of the employee housing. If a receiver is appointed, the owner and his or her agent of the substandard employee housing shall be enjoined from collecting rents from the tenants, interfering with the receiver in the operation of the substandard employee housing, and encumbering or transferring the substandard employee housing or real property upon which the employee housing is situated.

(2)  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 employee housing.

(B)  To manage the substandard employee housing and pay expenses of the operation of the substandard employee housing and real property upon which the employee housing is located, including taxes, insurance, utilities, general maintenance, and debt secured by an interest in the real property. However, the receiver shall not operate the employee housing for a longer period each year than the period it previously was operated as employee housing each year by the operator or owner.

(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 employee housing.

(F)  To use all rents and income from the substandard employee housing 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 (4) and secure that debt, with court approval, with a lien on the real property upon which the substandard employee housing is located. The lien shall be recorded in the county recorder’s office in the county within which the employee housing is located.

(H)  To exercise the powers granted receivers under Section 568 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(3)  The receiver shall be entitled to the same fees, commissions, and necessary expenses as receivers in actions to foreclose mortgages.

(4)  If the conditions of the employee housing or the repair or rehabilitation thereof significantly affect the safe and sanitary use of the substandard employee housing by any tenant, to the extent that the tenant cannot safely reside in his or her unit, then the receiver shall provide relocation benefits in accordance with paragraph (3) of subdivision (d).

(5)  The relocation compensation provided for in this section shall not preempt any local ordinance that provides for greater relocation assistance.

(6)  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 payment 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 employee housing.

(F)  Amount of tenant relocation benefits paid.

(7)  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.

(8)  The prevailing party in an action pursuant to this section shall at the court’s equitable discretion be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs as may be fixed by the court.

(9)  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.

(10)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit those rights available to tenants and owners under any other provision of the law.

(11)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to deprive an owner of substandard employee housing 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 that are issued by the enforcement agency or the court.

(d)  If the court finds that the employee housing is in a condition that substantially endangers the health and safety of residents pursuant to subdivision (a) of 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’s fees or costs, and all costs of prosecution.

(2)  Order that the local enforcement agency shall provide the tenants with notice of the court order or judgment.

(3)  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 as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 17060.2. These benefits shall consist of actual reasonable moving and storage costs and relocation compensation. The actual moving and storage costs shall consist of all the following:

(A)  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.

(B)  Packing, crating, unpacking, and uncrating the tenant’s personal property.

(C)  Insurance of the tenant’s property while in transit.

(D)  The reasonable replacement value of property lost, stolen, or damaged (not through the fault or negligence of the displaced person, his or her agent, or his or her employee) in the process of moving, where insurance covering the loss, theft, or damage is not reasonably available.

(E)  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.

(e)  (1)  The relocation compensation shall be an amount equal to the differential between the contract rent and the fair market rental value determined by the United States 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 or the duration that the camp is open, or the term of employment, whichever is less.

(2)  (A)  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 he or she actually relocates.

(B)  The court shall 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 he or she has relocated, within five days after the relocation.

(C)  (i)  The court shall order that the owner shall offer the first right to occupancy of the premises to each tenant who received benefits pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (d), 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.

(ii)  The tenant shall notify the owner in writing that he or she 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.

(D)  The court shall 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) of Part 1.5, and any other penalties and fines as are available.

(f)  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.

(g)  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.

(h)  The remedies authorized by this section shall be in addition to those provided by any other law.

(i)  Nothing in this section or in Section 17980.6 shall impair the rights of an owner exercising his or her rights established pursuant to Chapter 12.75 (commencing with Section 7060) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code.