Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.40

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Blighted housing property: means (a) any residential housing property for which environmental remediation is required by state law, rule, or regulation and  the condition of which is found or declared by the public officer to be harmful to the health or welfare, including the economic welfare, of the residents of the local governmental subdivision wherein the residential property is located, (b) any residential housing property that, as of the effective date of this Chapter, had been determined to be a blighted property or an adjudicated property by the local governmental subdivision, (c) any residential housing property that (i) is offered by a party in interest for inclusion on a blighted housing properties list and (ii) the current condition of which is declared by the local governmental subdivision to be below minimum habitability standards and unfit for human habitation, occupancy, or use, or (d) any residential housing property that (i) has not been legally occupied for eighteen months prior to the time a public officer makes a determination that the property has been vacant for such eighteen-month period and (ii) has been determined to be a public nuisance by the local governmental subdivision, except no residential housing property in an area impacted by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita which was occupied as of August 28, 2005, shall be included if the owner is eligible for and receives assistance under the Road Home Housing Program. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.33
  • Court: means the district court, city court, parish court, or municipal court with jurisdiction for the local governmental subdivision in which the blighted housing property is located. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.33
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Local governmental subdivision: means any parish or municipality. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.33
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Owner: means the holder or holders of title to a blighted housing property. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.33
  • Public officer: means an officer of the local governmental subdivision appropriately qualified to carry out the responsibilities of inspecting housing properties to determine whether such properties comply with state and local building codes and local health and safety codes and designated by resolution of the governing body of the local governmental subdivision in which the housing property is located. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.33
  • Qualified rehabilitation entity: means any person or entity designated by the local governmental subdivision or the state housing agency on the basis of having demonstrated knowledge and substantial experience in the construction or rehabilitation of residential housing properties, the provision of affordable housing, the restoration of blighted property, the revitalization and improvement of neighborhoods and that is well qualified by virtue of its staff, professional consultants, financial resources, and prior activities to carry out the rehabilitation of blighted residential housing properties. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.33
  • Rehabilitation plan: means (a) a renovation or rehabilitation plan for a blighted housing property approved by the local governmental subdivision that is consistent with any neighborhood redevelopment strategy, preserves the historic integrity of the residential housing property and restores such property to minimum habitability standards based upon (i) a physical condition assessment identifying components of the blighted housing property requiring repair, replacement, or improvement to restore the property to minimum habitability standards in a cost- effective manner, (ii) an estimate and certificate of costs executed by a public officer, including a schedule of values executed by a contractor committed to complete the repairs, replacements, or improvements identified in the physical condition assessment within the estimate of costs, (iii) evidence of funding commitments from government or commercial lenders sufficient to finance all costs identified in the estimate and certificate of costs, and (iv) a tentative timetable evidencing the time frame within which the rehabilitation plan may be completed, (b) an operating budget, including any required or permitted capital recovery payment, and (c) a receivership term. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.33
  • Secured party: means any lienholder, mortgagee, or other secured party with an interest in the blighted housing property that is recorded in the local governmental subdivision's mortgage, conveyance, or clerk of court records or the secretary of state's records. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:600.33

A.  Permits.  If a local governmental subdivision, secured party, or qualified rehabilitation entity has been granted possession of a property, that local governmental subdivision, secured party, or qualified rehabilitation entity shall be deemed to have an ownership interest in the property for the purpose of filing plans with public agencies and boards, seeking and obtaining construction permits and other approvals, and submitting applications for financing or other assistance to public or private entities.

B.  Legal control.  For the purposes of any program of grants or loans, possession of a blighted housing property pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter shall be considered legal control of the property.

C.  Liens.  The court may approve the borrowing of funds by a local governmental subdivision, with the consent of the property owner,  to rehabilitate the property.  Prior to seeking approval to borrow funds, the local governmental subdivision shall have exhausted all grant opportunities.  The court may grant a lien or security interest in the property for the amount of the borrowed funds.

D.  Recordation of liens.  No lien authorized by the court shall take effect unless recorded in the mortgage office of the parish in which the property is located.

E.  Notice of completion. The local governmental subdivision shall file a notice of completion with the court, and shall also serve a copy on the owner and any mortgage holder or lienholder, at such time as the local governmental subdivision has determined that at least fifty percent of the rehabilitation plan is complete. This notice shall include an affidavit of the public officer attesting to the frame within which that rehabilitation can realistically be anticipated to be complete and a statement setting forth such actions as it plans to undertake to ensure that reuse of the property is consistent with the plan.

Acts 2006, No. 355, §1, eff. June 13, 2006.