(a) No later than 30 days after becoming the owner of a foreclosed rental property, the owner shall register such property with the Commissioner.
The registration shall be in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner and shall contain the following information:
(1) name, address, and telephone number of the owner;
(2) address of the foreclosed rental property;
(3) if more than one rental unit is located in the foreclosed rental property, the number of rental units in the property, and whether each rental unit was occupied by a known tenant at the time the person became the owner. If occupied by a known tenant, the name and address of each known tenant;
(4) if the foreclosed rental property consists of only one rental unit, the name of the known tenant at the time the person became the owner;
(5) name, address, and telephone number of the owner's agent for the purpose of managing, controlling or collecting rents and any other person not an owner who is controlling such property, if any;
(6) name, address, and telephone number of a natural person 21 years of age or older, designated by the owner as the authorized agent for receiving notices of Code violations and for receiving process, in any court proceeding or administrative enforcement proceeding, on behalf of such owner in connection with the enforcement of this Code. This person must maintain an office or actually reside in Cook County, Illinois. An owner who is a natural person and who meets the requirements of this subsection as to location of residence or office may designate himself as agent;
(7) an affidavit signed by the owner which lists, by rental unit, all the qualified tenants at the time the person became the owner; and
(8) any other pertinent information reasonably required by the Commissioner. The owner shall make available within 10 business days all information requested by the Commissioner.
By designating an authorized agent under the provisions of this section, the owner is consenting to receive any and all notices of Code violations concerning the property and all process in any court proceeding or administrative enforcement proceeding brought to enforce Code provisions concerning the property by service of the notice or process on the authorized agent. Any owner who has designated an authorized agent under this section shall be deemed to consent to the continuation of the agent's designation for the purposes of this section until the owner notifies the Commissioner of a change of authorized agent or until a change in information pursuant to subsection (c). Any owner who fails to register under this section shall further be deemed to consent to receive, by posting at the foreclosed rental property, any and all notices of Code violations and all process in an administrative proceeding brought to enforce Code provisions concerning the property.
(b) If any other change in any information required under this section occurs at any time, the owner shall file with the Commissioner a statement indicating the nature and effective date of the change within 10 days after the change takes effect.
(c) If the foreclosed rental property is sold or otherwise transferred to a bona fide third-party purchaser, the owner shall, within 10 days of such sale or transfer, notify the Commissioner in writing in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner.
(d) The registration statement shall be deemed prima facie proof of the statements therein contained in any administrative enforcement proceeding or court proceeding instituted by the City against the owner.
(e) In the event that the foreclosed rental property becomes vacant after registration pursuant to this section, the owner shall comply with the vacant building registration requirements of Chapter 14X-12.
(Added Coun. J. 7-21-21, p. 32835, § 2)