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2015 SESSION
15102449DBe it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 15.2-907.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 15.2-907.2. Authority of locality to be appointed to act as a receiver to repair derelict and blighted buildings in certain limited circumstances.
A. Any locality that has adopted an ordinance pursuant to § 15.2-907.1 may petition the circuit court for the appointment of the locality to act as a receiver to repair real property that contains residential dwelling units only in accordance with all of the following:
1. The locality
has properly declared the subject property to be a derelict building in
compliance with the provisions of § 15.2-907.1;
2. The property owners are in
noncompliance with the provisions of § 15.2-907.1;
3. The
locality has properly declared the subject property to be blighted in
compliance with the provisions of § 36-49.1:1 for spot blight abatement, and
the subject property is itself blighted;
4. 2. The
property owners are in noncompliance with the provisions of § 36-49.1:1
requiring abatement of the blighted condition of the property;
5. 3. The
locality has made bona fide efforts to ensure compliance by the property owners
of the subject property with the requirements of §§ 15.2-907.1
and 36-49.1:1;
6. 4. The
repairs to the subject property are necessary to bring the subject property
into compliance with the provisions of the Uniform Statewide Building Code;
7. 5. The
repairs to the subject property necessary to satisfy the requirements of
subdivision 6 shall not result in a change of use for zoning purposes of the
subject property;
8. 6. Upon
appointment by the circuit court to serve as a receiver, the locality shall
have the authority to contract for all reasonable repairs necessary to bring
the property into compliance with the provisions of the Uniform Statewide
Building Code, subject to all applicable requirements of state and local
procurement laws. Such repairs shall be made in a time period established by
the court, but in no event shall a receivership exceed two years;
9. 7. Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, the provisions of this section are subject to the
requirements of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, (50 U.S.C. App. §§ 501-596
(19 Dec 2003)), et seq.; and
10. 8. Notwithstanding
any other provisions of law, the subject property shall be eligible for any
real estate abatement programs that exist in the locality.
B. A petition by the locality to be appointed to act as a receiver shall include affirmative statements that the locality has satisfied each of the requirements of this section and further state that the locality has recorded a memorandum of lis pendens simultaneously with the filing of said petition. The costs of the receivership, along with reasonable attorney fees, incurred by the locality as receiver shall constitute a lien in favor of the locality against the subject property in accordance with the provisions of § 58.1-3340, and shall be on par with and collectible in the same manner as delinquent real estate taxes owed to the locality. The judicial proceedings herein shall be held in accordance with the requirements, statutory or arising at common law, relative to effecting the sale of real estate by a creditor's bill in equity to subject real estate to the lien of a judgment creditor.
C. The locality appointed to be a receiver may enforce the receiver's lien by a sale of the property at public auction, but only upon application for and entry of an order of sale by the circuit court. The court shall appoint a special commissioner to conduct the sale, and an attorney employed by the locality may serve as special commissioner. Such sale shall be upon order of the court entered after notice as required by the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia and following publication of notice of the sale once a week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation. Following such public auction, the special commissioner shall file an accounting with the court and seek confirmation of the sale. Upon confirmation, the special commissioner shall be authorized to execute a deed conveying title, which shall pass free and clear to the purchaser at public auction. Following such sale, the former owner or owners, or any heirs, assignees, devisees, or successors in interest to the property shall be entitled to the surplus received in excess of the receiver's lien, taxes, penalties, interest, reasonable attorney fees, costs, and any recorded liens chargeable against the property. At any time prior to confirmation of the sale provided for herein, the owner shall have the right to redeem the property, as provided for in subsection D. The character of the title acquired by the purchaser of the property at public auction shall be governed by the principles and rules applicable to the titles of purchases at judicial sales of real estate generally.
D. The owner of any property subject to receivership may redeem the property at any time prior to the expiration of the two-year period or prior to confirmation of sale at public auction by paying the receiver's lien in full and the taxes, penalties, interest, reasonable attorney fees, costs, and any recorded liens chargeable against the property. Partial payment shall not be sufficient to redeem the property and shall not operate to suspend the receivership.
E. In lieu of appointment of a receiver, the circuit court shall permit repair by a property owner or a person with an interest in the property secured by a deed of trust properly recorded upon the following conditions:
1. Demonstration of the ability to complete the repair within a reasonable amount of time to be determined by the court; and
2. Entry of a court order setting forth a schedule for such repair.