A. Unless the Enforcement Agency determines that the tenants are not eligible for relocation benefits pursuant to the provisions of Section 163.02 above, the Enforcement Agency shall issue an order requiring the landlord to pay relocation benefits in the amounts specified in Section 163.05. The order shall direct that relocation assistance be paid in the time set forth in Section 163.04, and the Enforcement Agency shall provide notice of the order to the landlord and the tenants in the manner set forth in that section. If possible, the order to pay relocation benefits shall be made simultaneously with the issuance of the order to vacate. When ordering the landlord to pay the relocation benefits, the Enforcement Agency shall adhere to the procedures set forth in Section 163.04.
B. Any order to vacate issued by an Enforcement Agency shall be accompanied by a summary of the provisions of California Health and Safety Code Section 17975 et seq. Failure to provide a summary shall not relieve any person of the obligations imposed by this article. (Amended by Ord. No. 184,336, Eff. 7/19/16.)
C. Any order to pay relocation assistance shall advise the landlord of the appeals process by which the landlord may challenge the determination of the Enforcement Agency.
D. Where the landlord fails, neglects, or refuses to comply with an order to pay relocation benefits, the City, acting through the General Manager of the Enforcement Agency, may advance relocation benefits to displaced tenants and recover the advanced amount, penalties and costs from the landlord. If the total amount of relocation benefits advanced pursuant to Section 163.05 exceeds $100,000 per property, the General Manager must obtain the concurrence of the Mayor and City Council before advancing benefits to displaced tenants. (Sentence Amended by Ord. No. 182,768, Eff. 12/13/13.) The landlord shall be liable to the City of Los Angeles for reimbursement of the relocation benefits plus a penalty in the amount of one-half of the benefits paid, not to exceed $10,000, and the costs of the Enforcement Agency as set forth in California Health and Safety Code Section 17975 et seq. (Sentence Amended by Ord. No. 181,744, Eff. 7/15/11.) The City may collect the reimbursement, penalties and costs in the manner set forth in that section, including the imposition of a lien on the property.
E. The General Manager of the Enforcement Agency is empowered and designated to hear and adjudicate any appeal brought by a landlord from an order requiring payment of relocation benefits. The Enforcement Agency's Appeals Board is empowered and designated to hear and adjudicate any appeal from the General Manager's decision. The General Manager and the Enforcement Agency's Appeals Board shall adhere to the requirements of California Health and Safety Code Section 17975 et seq. (Amended by Ord. No. 184,336, Eff. 7/19/16.)