Chapter 14. Housing Preservation And Information Service of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 31. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 14.
The Legislature finds and declares that within the next 20
years nearly 117,000 units of low-income housing subsidized by the
federal Department of Housing and Urban Development will be eligible
for conversion to market rate housing. These subsidies include
low-interest loan and mortgage insurance programs established
pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 221 and
Section 236 of the National Housing Act of 1934 (12 U.S.C. Secs. 1715
and 1715z-1), as amended, rental subsidy programs established
pursuant to Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42
U.S.C. Sec. 1437), as amended. In addition, the Farmer's Home
Administration operates a low-interest loan program established
pursuant to Section 515 of the National Housing Act of 1949 (42
U.S.C. Sec. 1485), as amended. Federal law allows owners to convert
these units at certain intervals prior to the expiration of the
contracts. Should the owners of the units be allowed to prepay the
federally subsidized loans or fail to renew the Section rental
subsidies, these units are in danger of becoming unaffordable to
lower income tenants since the owners would no longer be obligated to
charge below market rate rents to the tenants. Thus, it is
anticipated that there will be an enormous loss of affordable decent,
safe, and sanitary housing for lower income persons.
The Legislature further finds that it is of paramount importance
that prior to an owner being allowed to convert a federally
subsidized building, tenants and other interested persons and
organizations have access to information concerning buildings
eligible for conversion and access to information concerning tenants'
rights and housing preservation alternatives when the conversion is
imminent. The information and assistance can aid in the deterrence of
conversion of the existing affordable housing stock. The Legislature
finds that the provision of information, accessible to the citizenry
of the state, would address this need.
The purpose of this chapter is to ensure all of the
following:
(a) That pertinent information concerning buildings eligible for
conversion is available to tenants of subsidized rental units,
community organizations, local government agencies, and other
interested persons.
(b) That information concerning the legal rights, responsibilities
and options of owners and tenants when the conversion of a
subsidized rental unit to a market rental rate is a likelihood, is
provided to tenants of subsidized rental units, community
organizations, local governmental agencies, and other interested
persons.
(c) That information concerning available technical assistance is
provided to tenants of subsidized rental units and community-based
nonprofits interested in purchasing the properties in the event that
conversion is a likelihood.
As used in this chapter, the terms defined in this section
shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Conversion" means any of the following:
(1) The prepayment of a federally, state, or locally subsidized or
insured mortgage prior to the expiration of the term of the
mortgage, including mortgages of assisted housing developments as
defined in paragraphs (2) and (4) of subdivision (a) of Section
65863.10 of the Government Code and mortgages made pursuant to
Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 52075) of Part 5, Article 2
(commencing with Section 33760) of Chapter 8 of Part 1 of Division
24, Article 5 (commencing with Section 34350) of Chapter 1 of Part 2
of Division 24, and Part 3 (commencing with Section 50900).
(2) Not renewing a contract with HUD or FmHA, which provides rent
subsidies, where the contract may be unilaterally renewed by an
owner, and prior to expiration of the full term of the contract,
including, but not limited to, contracts entered into pursuant to the
programs listed in paragraphs (1) and (3) of subdivision (a) of
Section 65863.10 of the Government Code.
(3) Purchase by an owner or its related entity of a building
following foreclosure of HUD or the FmHA, where the building included
subsidized rental units immediately prior to foreclosure or sale,
where the building no longer includes subsidized rental units, and
where the building was owned by the same owner immediately prior to
foreclosure or sale in lieu of foreclosure. For purposes of this
section, "related entity" means a spouse, parent, child, or other
individual who is blood related to the owner, a partnership if the
owner is either a general or limited partner of the partnership, a
corporation if the owner serves on the board of directors of the
corporation or if the owner is a holder of 1 percent, or more, of the
stock of the corporation, and any other business entity for which
the owner has primary authority for management of the business.
(b) "Converted unit" means a subsidized rental unit that was
subject to conversion.
(c) "FmHA" means the Farmers Home Administration.
(d) "HUD" means the United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
(e) "Owner" means the person, partnership, or corporation that is
a party to a contract with a federal, state, or local governmental
agency which provides a mortgage, mortgage assistance, or rent
subsidy.
(f) "Section 8" means any rental subsidy program established
pursuant to Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42
U.S.C. Sec. 1437), as amended.
(g) "Subsidized rental unit" means any unit with a rent that was
subject to regulation by a federal, state, or local governmental
agency prior to conversion.
(h) "Tenant" means a person entitled by written or oral agreement,
subtenancy approved by the owner, or sufferance, to occupy a unit to
the exclusion of others.
The department shall provide to tenants of subsidized rental
units, community organizations, local governmental agencies, and
other interested persons all of the following:
(a) To the extent that information on federally and state
subsidized housing projects, eligible for conversion, is available
from federal, state, or other agencies, a written inventory of
information on those projects, upon demand to the public. For each
project, the information shall include, but not be limited to, the
project name and address, the project owner, the earliest date of
eligibility for subsidy termination, the type of ownership, the
number of units in the building to be affected by conversion, the
federal financing program, the loan contract number, the amount and
term, interest rate, endorsement date, type of Section 8 contract,
Section 8 contract number, and any other information determined to be
pertinent.
(b) Written information concerning the legal rights,
responsibilities and options of owners and tenants when an owner
intends to convert the building.
(c) Written information concerning available technical assistance,
within the state, for tenants and community nonprofits interested in
buying those properties from the owner.
(d) Written information relating to the conversion process of
federally subsidized rental units and applicable federal, state, and
local laws.
(e) Any other information or technical assistance determined by
the department to further the purposes of this chapter.