reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
V.I. Code tit. 28, § 841 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 28 - Property|Chapter 31 - Landlord and Tenant|Subchapter III - Rent Control|§ 841. Stay of eviction order; conditions

 (a) When a landlord has been granted recovery of the premises under clause (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 840 of this title, the court, on application of the occupant, shall stay the issuance of an order of eviction for a reasonable period of not more than 6 months at a time, if, upon the application, it appears that— (1) the applicant, although he has made due and reasonable efforts to secure suitable premises, cannot secure them; or (2) by reason of other facts, it would occasion extreme hardship to the applicant or his family if the stay is not granted; and (3) the application is made in good faith. (b) A stay under subsection (a) of this section, if granted, shall be on condition that the tenant or occupant shall make a deposit in court for the period of the stay or pay to the landlord or deposit in court installments equivalent to the reasonable rental rate for which he would be liable. Such amounts shall also include all accrued rents unpaid by the occupant prior to the period of the stay.
V.I. Code tit. 28, § 842 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 28 - Property|Chapter 31 - Landlord and Tenant|Subchapter III - Rent Control|§ 842. Use of premises after recovery; re-occupancy by tenant; penalties

 Premises recovered by an owner in accordance with clause (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 840 of this title shall not thereafter be leased to or occupied by any tenant, lessee, or person other than the owner recovering possession of the same for his own personal use, unless notice in writing, by registered mail, is served upon the evicted tenant or tenants if his or their whereabouts be known, or if his or their whereabouts are unknown then by posting the notice on the premises involved, granting an optional resumption of tenancy at the same rental as theretofore which option shall expire unless accepted by the tenant or tenants in writing, by registered mail, within 30 days after service of the notice upon the evicted tenant or tenants. Any owner violating the provisions of this section shall be liable to each evicted tenant for double the amount of rent received from any new tenant or occupant, or $50, whichever is greater; and in addition shall be liable to each evicted tenant upon the resumption of tenancy in an amount equal to the damages suffered by the tenant as a result of the eviction and resumption of tenancy.
V.I. Code tit. 28, § 843 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 28 - Property|Chapter 31 - Landlord and Tenant|Subchapter III - Rent Control|§ 843. Notice to quit as condition precedent to recovery of possession

 In any action for the recovery of possession of rented premises, written notice to quit must have been served upon the tenant or person in possession for a period of 30 days before the commencement of such action.
V.I. Code tit. 28, § 844 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 28 - Property|Chapter 31 - Landlord and Tenant|Subchapter III - Rent Control|§ 844. Penalties

 (a) If any landlord receives rent in violation of any provisions of this subchapter, or of any regulation or order thereunder prescribing a rent ceiling, the tenant paying such rent or the Rent Control Officer on behalf of such tenant may bring an action for double the amount by which the rent paid exceeds the applicable rent ceiling or for $50 whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees and costs as determined by the court. (b) Whoever wilfully violates any provision of this subchapter or any regulation, order or requirement thereunder, or wilfully commits any acts with intent to evade this subchapter or any regulation or order or requirement thereunder, shall be fined not more than $100. Any person against whom a judgment has been entered under subchapter (a) of this section shall not be subject to prosecution under this subsection. (c) No person shall be held liable for damages or penalties in any court on any grounds for or in respect of anything done or omitted to be done in good faith pursuant to any provisions of this subchapter or any regulation or order. The Rent Control Officer may intervene in any action wherein a party relies for ground of relief or defense upon this subchapter or any regulation, order, or requirement thereunder.
V.I. Code tit. 28, § 845 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 28 - Property|Chapter 31 - Landlord and Tenant|Subchapter III - Rent Control|§ 845. Applicability to hotels or lodging houses

 This subchapter shall not apply to hotels or transient lodging houses.
V.I. Code tit. 28, § 846 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 28 - Property|Chapter 31 - Landlord and Tenant|Subchapter III - Rent Control|§ 846. Termination of emergency as rendering subchapter ineffective

 The provisions of this subchapter shall remain in force and effect only for the duration of the public emergency with respect to the shortage of housing and business accommodations declared to exist by Ordinance of the Municipal Council of Saint Thomas and Saint John approved December 5, 1947 (Bill no. 92), which ordinance was made applicable throughout the Virgin Islands by section 13 of the Act of the Legislature approved March 31, 1955, Number 24. Upon declaration by Resolution or Act of the Legislature that such emergency has ceased to exist, the provisions of this subchapter shall have no further application.
V.I. Code tit. 29, § 3 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 29 - Public Planning and Development|Chapter 1 - Community Development and Renewal; Slum Clearance and Housing|Subchapter I - Declaration of Findings and Policy and Definitions|§ 3. Age of applicants

 Applicants for housing under the provisions of this chapter shall be at least 18 years of age.
V.I. Code tit. 29, § 31 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 29 - Public Planning and Development|Chapter 1 - Community Development and Renewal; Slum Clearance and Housing|Subchapter II - Virgin Islands Housing Authority|§ 31. Virgin Islands Housing Authority

 (a) The name of the Virgin Islands Housing and Urban Renewal Authority, as heretofore established shall hereafter be “Virgin Islands Housing Authority”, and shall continue to be a public body corporate and politic of the Virgin Islands within the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority for administrative purposes only. The Virgin Islands Housing Authority shall constitute a “public housing agency” within the meaning of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, and a “local public agency” within the meaning of Title I of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended. The Authority shall have all the powers, rights, duties, privileges, functions, obligations, and status as a public body corporate and politic, prescribed, or provided by this chapter. (b) Except as provided in, and subject to the provisions of section 81(b) of this title, all the records, property, contracts, funds, obligations, rights and duties, and personnel of the Virgin Islands Housing and Urban Renewal Authority shall be deemed, forthwith and without lapse or interruption, those of the Virgin Islands Housing Authority, and no further ratification, confirmation or validation of any kind shall be required effectively to vest in such Authority all such records, property, contracts, funds, rights and personnel.
V.I. Code tit. 29, § 32a (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 29 - Public Planning and Development|Chapter 1 - Community Development and Renewal; Slum Clearance and Housing|Subchapter II - Virgin Islands Housing Authority|§ 32a. Same; expeditious filling of vacancies

 For the purposes of promoting effective management of the Virgin Islands Housing Authority, and the faithful execution of the laws of the Virgin Islands, the Governor of the Virgin Islands shall act expeditiously to submit to the Legislature the appointments of commissioners to fill vacancies in the membership of the said Authority resulting from expiration of term or other cause.
V.I. Code tit. 29, § 33 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 29 - Public Planning and Development|Chapter 1 - Community Development and Renewal; Slum Clearance and Housing|Subchapter II - Virgin Islands Housing Authority|§ 33. Chairman, vice-chairman and other personnel of the Authority

 (a) The commissioners shall constitute the Board of Commissioners of the Authority. The Chairman of the Board shall be selected by the Board from among its members and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Board shall employ a Chief Executive Officer who shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. No individual shall serve as both Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. A vice-chairman shall be selected by the Board from among its members to serve for a year or until his successor is selected in accordance with the bylaws of the Authority. The Board may employ technical experts and such officers, agents, or employees, permanent and temporary, as it may deem necessary and shall determine their qualifications, duties, tenure, and compensation. For such legal service as it may require, the Authority may employ or retain its own counsel and legal staff. The Authority may delegate to one or more of its officers, agents, or employees, such powers or duties as it may deem proper. (b) All employees who hold permanent positions within the Authority shall be covered in accordance with provisions of the Employees Retirement System of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands and shall be included in the career or classified service of the Government Service of the United States Virgin Islands.
V.I. Code tit. 29, § 34 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 29 - Public Planning and Development|Chapter 1 - Community Development and Renewal; Slum Clearance and Housing|Subchapter II - Virgin Islands Housing Authority|§ 34. Quorum and majority

 A majority of the Board of commissioners shall constitute a quorum of the Board of Commissioners of the Authority for the purpose of conducting the business of the Authority and exercising its powers, and for all other purposes, notwithstanding the existence of any vacancies, except that a lesser number may adjourn. Unless the Authority in its bylaws requires a greater proportion in any instance, a vote of the majority of Commissioners present at any meeting of the Board shall prevail.
V.I. Code tit. 29, § 36 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 29 - Public Planning and Development|Chapter 1 - Community Development and Renewal; Slum Clearance and Housing|Subchapter II - Virgin Islands Housing Authority|§ 36. Participation in Federal programs

 (a) The Authority is empowered and authorized to participate in the programs of the Federal Government in the fields of housing for low-income families and for persons engaged in national defense activities or for victims of a major disaster, and related activities. (b) In connection with such participation, and in addition to powers otherwise conferred by this chapter, the Authority is empowered and authorized (1) to enter into contracts and agreements of every kind and nature with the Federal Government for any purposes related to such programs, and shall comply with such contracts and any Federal rules, requirements, regulations and procedures, applicable to the program; (2) to execute such mortgages, declarations or indentures of trust, leases, undertakings, or other agreements or documents of every nature, as may be necessary, or required by the Federal Government; and (3) otherwise to comply fully with any conditions imposed by the Federal Government upon participation by the Authority in such programs, it being the intent of this chapter to enable the Authority to do any and all things necessary to secure participation in the Federal programs, and Federal financial aid in such programs, and the cooperation of the Federal Government in the carrying out, undertaking, development, construction, maintenance, and operation of any project, in carrying out the functions of the Authority, and in achieving the policies and purposes of this chapter, and to assure strict compliance by the Authority with any conditions imposed by the Federal Government. (c) Further in connection with such participation, the Authority is also empowered and authorized to borrow money, receive contributions or grants, and accept other forms of financial assistance from or through the facilities or guarantees of the Federal Government, and may accept, and shall comply with such conditions as the Federal Government may impose upon, or attach to its financial aid. (d) Further in connection with such participation, the Authority shall agree to and shall comply with any conditions imposed by the Federal Government relating to the wages and hours of labor, and labor standards, in the development or administration of projects, and shall include in any contract awarded or entered into in connection with any project covenants that the contractor and all subcontractors shall comply with all requirements as to wages and hours of labor and labor standards.
V.I. Code tit. 29, § 37 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 29 - Public Planning and Development|Chapter 1 - Community Development and Renewal; Slum Clearance and Housing|Subchapter II - Virgin Islands Housing Authority|§ 37. Housing for disaster victims and defense workers

 Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter relating to rentals of, preferences or eligibility for admission to, or occupancy of dwellings in housing projects, during the period when the Authority determines that there is an acute need in this area of operation for housing to assure the availability of dwellings for persons engaged in national defense activities or for victims of a major disaster, the Authority may undertake the development and administration of housing projects for the Federal Government, and dwellings in any housing project under the jurisdiction of the Authority may be made available to persons engaged in national defense activities or to victims of a major disaster, as the case may be. The Authority is authorized to contract with the Federal Government or the Government of the United States Virgin Islands or public agencies thereof for advance payment or reimbursement for the furnishing of housing to victims of a major disaster, including the furnishing of the housing free of charge to needy disaster victims during any period covered by a determination of acute need by the Authority as herein provided.
V.I. Code tit. 29, § 38 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 29 - Public Planning and Development|Chapter 1 - Community Development and Renewal; Slum Clearance and Housing|Subchapter II - Virgin Islands Housing Authority|§ 38. Interest of commissioners and others in projects; duty to disclose; violation

 During his tenure and for one year thereafter, no commissioner, officer or employee of the Authority shall voluntarily acquire any personal interest, direct or indirect in any project or in any property included or planned to be included in any project, or in any contract or proposed contract relating to any project. If any such commissioner, officer, or employee voluntarily or involuntarily acquired any such interest prior to appointment or employment as a commissioner, officer or employee, or thereafter, then in any such event, the commissioner, officer or employee, shall immediately disclose his interest in writing to the Authority and such disclosure shall be entered upon the minutes of the Authority, and the commissioner, officer or employee shall not participate in any action by the Authority relating to the property or contract in which he has any such interest. Any violation of the foregoing provisions of this section shall constitute misconduct in office. These provisions shall not be applicable to the acquisition of any interest in notes or bonds of the Authority issued in connection with any project or to the execution of agreements by banking institutions for the deposit or handling of funds in connection with a project or to act as trustee under any trust indenture or agreement, or to utility services the rates for which are fixed or controlled by a government agency.
V.I. Code tit. 29, § 39 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 29 - Public Planning and Development|Chapter 1 - Community Development and Renewal; Slum Clearance and Housing|Subchapter II - Virgin Islands Housing Authority|§ 39. Advisory Council on Housing

 (a) There is hereby created an Advisory Council on Housing, hereinafter referred to as the “Council”. The Council shall consist of six tenant representatives elected from the public rental housing projects. Three of the representatives shall be from housing projects on St. Croix and three shall be from housing projects on St. Thomas/St. John. They shall be democratically chosen by the residents, of legal age, of the respective housing projects by the same democratic selection process for the list of candidates for representation on the Board provided in subsection (a) of section 32 of this title. (b) The Council shall meet on a regular basis to investigate concerns of public housing tenants and formulate solutions to those concerns. The Council shall attend meetings of the Board of Commissioners of the Virgin Islands Housing Authority and advise the Board on tenant problems and recommended solutions. The Board shall supply the Council with such staff and supplies as are necessary in the performance of its duties and Council members shall receive per diem and attendance for travel to official meetings of the Council and the Board as provided by Title 3, section 65, Virgin Islands Code. The Council shall, to the best of its ability, represent the views of the tenants of the public housing projects on matters affecting the health, welfare, and safety of all tenants, and in any other matters properly before the Board.
V.I. Code tit. 29, § 61 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 29 - Public Planning and Development|Chapter 1 - Community Development and Renewal; Slum Clearance and Housing|Subchapter III - Rentals and Tenant Selection; Low-Rent Housing|§ 61. Limitation on rentals or payments; factors to be considered

 It is declared to be the policy of the Virgin Islands that the Authority shall manage and operate housing projects established for low-income families in the most economical and efficient manner consistent with applicable requirements, so as to enable it to fix rentals or charges for dwelling accommodations at low rents, in consonance with the purpose of providing safe, decent, and sanitary housing for families of low income, and shall not operate such housing for profit or as a source of revenue to the Government of the United States Virgin Islands or any division or subdivision thereof. To this end, the Authority shall fix the rentals or charges for dwellings in such housing projects at rates no higher than those it shall determine to be necessary to produce revenues which, together with all other available moneys, revenues, incomes, and receipts of the Authority, from all sources, including Federal financial assistance provided to maintain the low-rent character of the housing projects, will be sufficient to: (1) pay, as they become due, the principal and interest on bonds and obligations of the Authority; (2) establish and maintain such reserves as may be required to assure the payment of such principal and interest, as they become due; (3) meet the cost of, and to provide for, the maintenance and operation of the housing projects, including necessary reserves therefor, and for costs of insurance protection, as well as the administrative expenses for the Authority; and (4) make payments in lieu of taxes as provided for in this chapter. Rentals and charges for dwellings shall be established, and the housing projects shall be administered, to the greatest degree possible, so as to assure that any Federal financial assistance required shall be in the minimum amounts and periods necessary to maintain the low-rent character of the projects.
V.I. Code tit. 29, § 62 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 29 - Public Planning and Development|Chapter 1 - Community Development and Renewal; Slum Clearance and Housing|Subchapter III - Rentals and Tenant Selection; Low-Rent Housing|§ 62. Duties of Authority with respect to rentals and rent selection

 Subject to such requirements as the Federal Government may impose with respect to Federally-aided housing projects, which shall in any event prevail, the Authority, in the operation and management of low-rent housing projects shall observe the following criteria: (1) It may rent or lease the dwelling accommodations in a housing project only to families who lack the amount of income deemed necessary by the Authority to enable them, without financial assistance, to secure decent, safe and sanitary dwellings, within the area of operation of the Authority, and to provide an adequate standard of living for themselves. The Authority shall charge rentals which it determines to be within the financial reach of such families. (2) Nothing contained in section 61 of this title or in subsection (1) of this section shall limit the power of the Authority to vest in an obligee of the Authority the right, in the event of a default by the Authority, to take possession of a housing project or cause the appointment of a receiver thereof, free from all the restrictions imposed therein. (3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the Authority may agree to conditions as to tenant eligibility or preference required by the Federal Government pursuant to Federal law in any contract for financial assistance with the Authority.
V.I. Code tit. 29, § 63 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 29 - Public Planning and Development|Chapter 1 - Community Development and Renewal; Slum Clearance and Housing|Subchapter III - Rentals and Tenant Selection; Low-Rent Housing|§ 63. Tenant management of public housing projects

 The Virgin Islands Housing Authority shall provide financial technical assistance to public housing tenant organizations which request such assistance in an attempt to establish tenant management of public housing projects pursuant to section 122 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 (42 U.S.C. 1437r) and the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. Such assistance shall include, but shall not be limited to: (a) Informing tenant organizations of the provisions of section 122 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, under which they can assume the management of their public housing projects; (b) Advising tenant organizations of the requirements necessary to qualify for tenant management of public housing projects under the federal law, the rules and regulations of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and any applicable Virgin Islands laws and regulations; (c) Consulting with tenant organizations and providing financial assistance in the selection and retention of a public housing management specialist as required by section 122 of the Housing and Community Development Act; and (d) Assisting in the training of the tenant organizations, and public housing residents selected by those organizations, in the duties and responsibilities necessary for the management of a public housing project.