Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 23, § 370.16 - Replacement Housing Payments

(a) General Provisions.

(1) In addition to other payments provided by this Article, eligible individuals and families displaced from their primary residence, including condominiums, cooperative apartments and mobile homes purchased by the State are eligible for replacement housing payments in accordance with this Article.

(2) Displaced individuals or families are not required to relocate to the same occupancy (owner or tenant) status but have other options according to their ownership status and tenure of occupancy as described in Sections 370.17 to 370.23, inclusive, of this Article.

(3) Not more than one replacement housing or rental payment shall be made for each dwelling unit except in the case of multi-family occupancy of one dwelling unit as specified in subsection (f) of this Section.

(b) Requirement to Receive Payments.

(1) In addition to the tenure of occupancy provisions the displaced person is otherwise eligible for the appropriate payments when he relocates and occupies a decent, safe and sanitary dwelling within a one-year period beginning on the later of the following dates:

(A) The date on which the owner received final payment for all costs of the acquired dwelling in negotiated settlements; or in the case of condemnation, the date on which the required amount is deposited into court for the benefit of the owner; or

(B) The date on which he actually vacates the acquired real property.

(2) A displaced person who has entered into a contract for the construction or rehabilitation of a replacement dwelling and, for reasons beyond his reasonable control, cannot occupy the replacement dwelling within the time period shown above shall be considered to have purchased and occupied the dwelling as of the date of such contract. The replacement housing payment or rental payment under these conditions shall be deferred until the displaced person has actually occupied the replacement dwelling.

(3) A displaced person who has entered a legally binding contract for purchase of a replacement dwelling and, for reasons beyond his reasonable control, cannot secure title to and occupancy of the replacement dwelling within the time period shown above shall be considered to have purchased and occupied the dwelling as of the date of such contract. The replacement housing or rental payment under these conditions shall be deferred until title to the premises vests in and the displaced person has actually occupied the replacement dwelling.

(c) Inspection for Decent, Safe and Sanitary Standards. Before making payment to the relocatee the Department shall inspect the replacement dwelling and determine whether it meets the standards for decent, safe and sanitary housing as set forth in Section 370.04 of this Article. Such determination by the Department that a dwelling meets the standards for decent, safe and sanitary housing is made solely for the purpose of determining the eligibility of relocated individuals and families for payments under this Article and is not a representation for any other purpose.

(d) Applicants Must Certify Eligibility. Applicants for any payment made under Sections 370.16 to 370.23, inclusive, must certify that, to the best of their knowledge and belief, the replacement dwelling meets the standards for decent, safe and sanitary housing specified in Section 370.04 of this Article and that they are eligible for the payment requested.

(e) Ownership of Replacement Dwelling Prior to the Initiation of Negotiations. Any person who has obtained legal ownership of a replacement dwelling prior to the initiation of negotiations on the project and occupies the replacement dwelling after being displaced but within the time limit specified in subsection (b) of this Section is eligible for replacement housing payment if the replacement dwelling meets the requirements of Section 370.04 of this Article.

(f) Multiple Occupancy of Same Dwelling Unit. The Department shall determine if the multiple occupancy of a single dwelling unit will require proration of replacement housing payments based on equitable criteria consistent with the intent of the displacees and the Relocation Act (Government Code Section 7260, et seq.).

(g) Joint Residential and Business Use. Where displaced individuals or families occupy living quarters on the same premises as a displaced business, farm or nonprofit organization, such individuals or families are separate displaced persons for purposes of determining entitlement to relocation payments.

(h) Dependents. A dependent who is residing separate and apart from the person or family providing support, whether such separate residence is permanent or temporary, shall be entitled to payment under these regulations, but such payment shall be limited to the period during which the displaced dependent resides in the replacement dwelling. At the time the dependent vacates that dwelling, no further payment under these regulations shall be made to such person. For the purposes of this paragraph, a "dependent" shall be a person who derives fifty-one percent (51%) or more of his income in the form of gifts from any private person or any academic scholarship or stipend. Full-time students shall be presumed to be dependents but may rebut this presumption by demonstrating that over fifty percent (50%) of their income is derived from sources other than gifts from another person or academic scholarships or stipends.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 23, § 370.16

Note: Authority cited: Section 7267.8, Government Code. Reference: Section 7268, Government Code.