La. Admin. Code tit. 70 § XVII-109

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section XVII-109 - Replacement Housing Payments

A. Replacement Housing Payment for 180-Day Homeowner-Occupants

1. Eligibility. A displaced person is eligible for the replacement housing payment for a 180-day homeowner-occupant if the person:

a. has actually owned and occupied the displacement dwelling for not less than 180 days immediately prior to the initiation of negotiations; and

b. purchases and occupies a decent, safe, and sanitary replacement dwelling within one year after the later of the following dates (except that the department may extend such one year period for good cause):

i. the date the person receives final payment for the displacement dwelling or, in the case of condemnation, the date the required amount is deposited in the court; or

ii. the date the person moves from the displacement dwelling.

2. Amount of Payment. The replacement housing payment for an eligible 180-day homeowner-occupant may not exceed $22,500 (see also §109. D) The payment under this Section is limited to the amount necessary to relocate to a comparable replacement dwelling within one year from the date the displaced homeowner-occupant is paid for the displacement dwelling, or the date such person is initially offered a comparable replacement dwelling, whichever is later. The payment shall be the sum of:

a. the amount by which the cost of a replacement dwelling exceeds the acquisition cost of the displacement dwelling, as determined in accordance with §109. A 3; and

b. the increased interest costs and other debt service costs which are incurred in connection with the mortgage(s) on the replacement dwelling, as determined in accordance with §109. A 4; and

c. the reasonable expenses incidental to the purchase of the replacement dwelling, as determined in accordance with §109. A 5

3. Price Differential

a. Basic Computation. The price differential to be paid under §109. A.2.a is the amount which must be added to the acquisition cost of the displacement dwelling to provide a total amount equal to the lesser of:

i. the reasonable cost of a comparable replacement dwelling as determined in accordance with §109. C.1 of this Section; or

ii. the purchase price of the decent, safe, and sanitary replacement dwelling actually purchased and occupied by the displaced person.

b. Mixed-Use and Multifamily Properties. If the displacement dwelling was part of a property that contained another dwelling unit and/or space used for non-residential purposes, and/or is located on a lot larger than typical for residential purposes, only that portion of the acquisition payment which is actually attributable to the displacement dwelling shall be considered its acquisition cost when computing the price differential.

c. Insurance Proceeds. To the extent necessary to avoid duplicate compensation, the amount of any insurance proceeds received by a person in connection with a loss to the displacement dwelling due to a catastrophic occurrence (fire, flood, etc.) shall be included in the acquisition cost of the displacement dwelling when computing the price differential (also see §101 C)

d. Owner Retention of Displacement Dwelling. If the owner retains ownership of his or her dwelling, moves it from the displacement site, and reoccupies it on a replacement site, the purchase price of the replacement dwelling shall be the sum of:

i. the cost of moving and restoring the dwelling to a condition comparable to that prior to the move;

ii. the cost of making the unit a decent, safe, and sanitary replacement dwelling (defined at §101. B 6);

iii. the current fair market value for residential use of the replacement site (see §115, and §109. A.3.d iii), unless the claimant rented the displacement site and there is a reasonable opportunity for the claimant to rent a suitable replacement site; and

iv. the retention value of the dwelling, if such retention value is reflected in the acquisition cost used when computing the replacement housing payment.

4. Increased Mortgage Interest Costs. The department shall determine the factors to be used in computing the amount to be paid to a displaced person under §109. A.2.b The payment shall be an amount which will reduce the mortgage balance on the replacement dwelling to an amount which could be amortized with the same monthly payment for principal and interest as that for the mortgage(s) on the displacement dwelling. In addition, payments shall include other debt service costs, if not paid as incidental costs, and shall be based only on bona fide mortgages that were valid liens on the displacement dwelling for at least 180 days prior to the initiation of negotiations §109. A.4 a-e shall apply to the computation of the increased mortgage interest costs payment, which payment shall be contingent upon a mortgage being placed on the replacement dwelling.

a. The payment shall be based on the unpaid mortgage balances on the displacement dwelling; however, in the event the person obtains a smaller mortgage than the mortgage balance computed in the buy-down determination, the payment will be prorated and reduced accordingly (see §115). In the case of a home equity loan the unpaid balance shall be that balance which existed 180 days prior to the initiation of negotiations or the balance on the date of acquisition, whichever is less.

b. The payment shall be based on the remaining term of the mortgage(s) on the displacement dwelling regardless of the term of the new mortgage.

c. The interest rate on the new mortgage used in determining the amount of the payment shall not exceed the prevailing fixed interest rate for conventional mortgages currently charged by mortgage lending institutions in the area in which the replacement dwelling is located.

d. Purchaser's points and loan origination or assumption fees, but not seller's points, shall be paid to the extent:

i. they are not paid as incidental expenses;

ii. they do not exceed rates normal to similar real estate transactions in the area;

iii. the department determines them to be necessary; and

iv. the computation of such points and fees shall be based on the unpaid mortgage balance on the displacement dwelling, less the amount determined for the reduction of such mortgage balance under this Section.

e. The displaced person shall be advised of the approximate amount of this payment as soon as the facts relative to the person's current mortgages are known and the payment shall be made available at the time of closing on the replacement dwelling.

5. Incidental Expenses. The incidental expenses to be paid under §109. A.2.c or §109. B.3.a are those necessary and reasonable costs actually incurred by the displaced person incident to the purchase of a replacement dwelling, and customarily paid by the buyer, including:

a. legal, closing, and related costs, including those for title search, preparing conveyance instruments, notary fees, preparing surveys and plats, and recording fees;

b. lender, FHA, or VA application and appraisal fees;

c. loan origination or assumption fees that do not represent prepaid interest;

d. certification of structural soundness and termite inspection when required;

e. credit report;

f. owner's and mortgagees evidence of title, e.g., title insurance, not to exceed the costs for a comparable replacement dwelling;

g. escrow agent's fee;

h. state revenue or documentary stamps, sales or transfer taxes (not to exceed the costs for a comparable replacement dwelling);

i. such other costs as the department determines to be incidental to the purchase.

6. Rental Assistance Payment for 180-Day Homeowner. A 180-day homeowner-occupant, who could be eligible for a replacement housing payment under §109. B.1 but elects to rent a replacement dwelling, is eligible for a rental assistance payment not to exceed $5,250, computed and disbursed in accordance with §109. B 2

B. Replacement Housing Payment for 90-Day Occupants

1. Eligibility. A tenant or owner-occupant displaced from a dwelling is entitled to a payment not to exceed $5,250 for rental assistance, as computed in accordance with §109. B 2, or downpayment assistance, as computed in accordance with §109. B 3, if such displaced person:

a. has actually and lawfully occupied the displacement dwelling for at least 90 days immediately prior to the initiation of negotiations; and

b. has rented, or purchased, and occupied a decent, safe, and sanitary replacement dwelling within one year (unless the department extends this period for good cause) after:

i. for a tenant, the date he or she moves from the displacement dwelling; or

ii. for an owner-occupant, the later of:

(a). the date he or she receives final payment for the displacement dwelling, or in the case of condemnation, the date the required amount is deposited with the court; or

(b). the date he or she moves from the displacement dwelling.

2. Rental Assistance Payment

a. Amount of Payment. An eligible displaced person who rents a replacement dwelling is entitled to a payment not to exceed $5,250 for rental assistance (see also §109. D) Such payment shall be 42 times the amount obtained by subtracting the base monthly rental for the displacement dwelling from the lesser of:

i. the monthly rent and estimated average monthly cost of utilities for a comparable replacement dwelling; or

ii. the monthly rent and estimated average monthly cost of utilities for the decent, safe, and sanitary replacement dwelling actually occupied by the displaced person.

b. Base monthly rental for displacement dwelling. The base monthly rental for the displacement dwelling is the lesser of:

i. the average monthly cost for rent and utilities at the displacement dwelling for a reasonable period prior to displacement, as determined by the department. (For an owner-occupant, use the fair market rent for the displacement dwelling. For a tenant who paid little or no rent for the displacement dwelling, use the fair market rent, unless its use would result in a hardship because of the person's income or other circumstances; or

ii. thirty percent of the person's average gross household income. (If the person refuses to provide appropriate evidence of income or is a dependent, the base monthly rental shall be established solely on the criteria in §109. B.2.b.i. A full-time student or resident of an institution may be assumed to be a dependent, unless the person demonstrates otherwise).

c. Manner of Disbursement. A rental assistance payment may, at the department's discretion, be disbursed in either a lump sum or in installments. However, except as limited by §109. C 6, the full amount vests immediately, whether or not there is any later change in the person's income or rent, or in the condition or location of the person's housing.

3. Downpayment Assistance Payment

a. Amount of Payment. An eligible displaced person who purchases a replacement dwelling is entitled to a downpayment assistance payment in the amount the person would receive under §109. B.2 if the person rented a comparable replacement dwelling. At the discretion of the department, a downpayment assistance payment may be increased to any amount not to exceed $5,250. However, the payment to a displaced homeowner shall not exceed the amount the owner would receive under §109. A.2 if he or she met the 180-day occupancy requirement. The department's discretion to provide the maximum payment shall be exercised in a uniform and consistent manner, so that eligible displaced persons in like circumstances are treated equally. A displaced person eligible to receive a payment as a 180-day owner-occupant under §109. A.1 is not eligible for this payment (see also §115. B 3

b. Application of Payment. The full amount of the replacement housing payment for downpayment assistance must he applied to the purchase price of the replacement dwelling and related incidental expenses.

C. Additional Rules Governing Replacement Housing Payments

1. Determining Cost of Comparable Replacement Dwelling. The upper limit of a replacement housing payment shall be based on the cost of a comparable replacement dwelling (defined at §101. B 4

a. If available, at least three comparable replacement dwellings shall be examined and the payment computed on the basis of the dwelling most nearly representative of, and equal to, or better than, the displacement dwelling. An adjustment shall be made to the asking price of any dwelling, to the extent justified by local market data (see also §105. E.1.b An obviously overpriced dwelling may be ignored.

b. If the site of the comparable replacement dwelling lacks a major exterior attribute of the displacement dwelling site, (e.g., the site is significantly smaller or does not contain a swimming pool), the value of such attribute shall be subtracted from the acquisition cost of the displacement dwelling for purposes of computing the payment. If the acquisition of a portion of a typical residential property causes the displacement of the owner from the dwelling and the remainder is a buildable residential lot, the department may offer to purchase the entire property. If the owner refuses to sell the remainder to the department, the fair market value of the remainder may be added to the acquisition cost of the displacement dwelling for purposes of computing the replacement housing payment.

c. To the extent feasible, comparable replacement dwellings shall be selected from the neighborhood in which the displacement dwelling was located or, if that is not possible, in nearby or similar neighborhoods where housing costs are generally the same or higher.

2. Basic Rights of Persons to be Displaced. Not withstanding any provision of this Section, no person shall be required to move from a displacement dwelling unless comparable replacement housing is available to such person. No person may be deprived of any rights the person may have under the Uniform Act or this Part. The department shall not require any displaced person to accept a dwelling provided by the department under these procedures (unless the department and the displaced person have entered into a contract to do so) in lieu of any acquisition payment or any relocation payment for which the person may otherwise be eligible.

3. Purchase of Replacement Dwelling. A displaced person is considered to have met the requirement to purchase a replacement dwelling, if the person:

a. purchases a dwelling; or

b. purchases and rehabilitates a substandard dwelling; or

c. relocates a dwelling which he or she owns or purchases; or

d. constructs a dwelling on a site he or she owns or purchases; or

e. contracts for the purchase or construction of a dwelling on a site provided by a builder or on a site the person owns or purchases;

f. currently owns a previously purchased dwelling and site, valuation of which shall be on the basis of current fair market value.

4. Occupancy Requirements for Displacement or Replacement Dwelling. No person shall be denied eligibility for a replacement housing payment solely because the person is unable to meet the occupancy requirements set forth in these regulations for a reason beyond his or her control, including:

a. a disaster, an emergency, or an imminent threat to the public health or welfare, as determined by the President, the federal agency funding the project, or the department; or

b. another reason, such as a delay in the construction of the replacement dwelling, military reserve duty, or hospital stay, as determined by the department.

5. Conversion of Payment. A displaced person who initially rents a replacement dwelling and receives a rental assistance payment under §109. B.2 is eligible to receive a payment under §109. A or B.3 if he or she meets the eligibility criteria for such payments, including purchase and occupancy within the prescribed one-year period. Any portion of the rental assistance payment that has been disbursed shall be deducted from the payment computed under §109. A or §109. B 3

6. Payment after Death. A replacement housing payment is personal to the displaced person and upon his or her death the undisbursed portion of any such payment shall not be paid to the heirs or assigns, except that:

a. the amount attributable to the displaced persons period of actual occupancy of the replacement housing shall be paid;

b. the full payment shall be disbursed in any case in which a member of a displaced family dies and the other family member(s) continue to occupy a decent, safe, arid sanitary replacement dwelling;

c. any portion of a replacement housing payment necessary to satisfy the legal obligation of an estate in connection with the selection of a replacement dwelling by or on behalf of a deceased person shall be disbursed to the estate.

D. Replacement Housing of Last Resort

1. Determination to Provide Last Resort Housing. Whenever a program or project cannot proceed on a timely basis because comparable replacement dwellings are not available within the monetary limits for owners or tenants, as specified in §109. A or B, as appropriate, the department shall provide additional or alternative assistance under the provisions of this Section. Any decision to provide last resort housing assistance must be adequately justified either:

a. on a case-by-case basis, for good cause, which means that appropriate consideration has been given to:

i. the availability of comparable housing in the project or program area; and

ii. the resources available to provide comparable housing; and

iii. the individual circumstances of the displaced person; or

b. by a determination that:

i. there is little, if any, comparable-replacement housing available to displaced persons within an entire project or program area; and, therefore a case-by-case justification for last resort housing assistance is not necessary; and

ii. a project or program cannot be advanced to completion in a timely manner without last resort housing assistance; and

iii. the method selected for providing last resort housing assistance is cost effective, considering all elements which contribute to total project or program costs. (Will project delay justify waiting for less expensive replacement housing to become available?)

3. Methods of Providing Replacement Housing. The department shall have broad latitude in implementing this Subpart, but implementation shall be for reasonable cost, on a case-by-case basis unless an exception to case-by-case analysis is justified for an entire project.

a. The methods of providing housing of last resort include, but are not limited to:

i. a replacement housing payment in excess of the limits set forth in §109. A or B. A rental assistance subsidy under this Section may be provided in installments or in a lump sum at the department's discretion;

ii. rehabilitation of and/or additions to an existing replacement dwelling;

iii. the construction of a new replacement dwelling;

iv. the provision of a direct loan, which requires regular amortization or deferred repayment. The loan may be unsecured or secured by the real property. The loan may bear interest or be interest-free;

v. the relocation, and, if necessary, rehabilitation of a dwelling;

vi. the purchase of land and/or a replacement dwelling by the department and subsequent sale or lease to, or exchange with a displaced person;

vii. the removal of barriers to the handicapped;

viii. the change in status of the displaced person from tenant to homeowner when it is more cost effective to do so, as in cases where a downpayment may be less expensive than a last resort rental assistance payment.

b. Under special circumstances, modified methods of providing housing of last resort permit consideration of:

i. replacement housing based on space and physical characteristics different from those in the displacement dwelling (see §115, and §109 D);

ii. upgraded, but smaller replacement housing that is decent, safe and sanitary and adequate to accommodate individuals or families displaced from marginal or substandard housing with probable functional obsolescence;

iii. the financial means of a displaced person who is not eligible to receive a replacement housing payment because of failure to meet length-of-occupancy requirements when comparable replacement rental housing is not available at rental rates within 30 percent of the person's gross monthly household income.

La. Admin. Code tit. 70, § XVII-109

Promulgated by the Department of Transportation and Development, Office of Real Estate, LR 19:507 (April 1993).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with 42 USC 4601 - 4655, 52 FR 45667, 49 CFR 1.48(dd), and R.S. 38:3107.