(a) The department may make loans from the fund to individual low-income residents of mobilehome parks that have converted to resident ownership or resident organizations that have converted or plan to convert a mobilehome park to resident ownership. The purpose of providing loans pursuant to this section is to reduce the monthly housing costs for low-income residents to an affordable level.

(b) Loans provided pursuant to this section shall be for a term of no more than 40 years and shall bear interest at a rate of 3 percent per annum, unless the department finds that a lower interest rate is necessary and will not jeopardize the financial stability of the fund.

(c) The department may establish flexible repayment terms for loans provided pursuant to this section if the terms are necessary to reduce the monthly housing costs for low-income residents to an affordable level, and do not represent an unacceptable risk to the security of the fund.

(d) Loans provided to low-income residents pursuant to this section shall be for the minimum amount necessary to reduce the borrower’s monthly housing costs to an affordable level. All of the following shall apply to loans to finance individual interests pursuant to this section:

(1) To the extent possible, loan amounts shall not exceed 50 percent of the acquisition costs of the individual interests in the mobilehome parks. However, the loan amounts may be for up to 100 percent of the acquisition costs of the individual interests in the mobilehome parks when approved by the department.

(2) The department may grant approval to exceed 50 percent of the acquisition costs of the individual interests only if both of the following are demonstrated:

(A) That the low-income resident has made an effort to secure additional funding from other sources and these funds are not available.

(B) That the low-income resident would be unable to purchase an individual interest without a waiver of the 50-percent financing limitation.

(3) The total indebtedness of the loan provided pursuant to this section plus any senior debt upon individual interests may not exceed 100 percent of the value of the collateral securing the loan, plus the amount of costs incidentally, but directly, related to the acquisition.

(e) Loans provided to resident organizations pursuant to this section shall be for the minimum amount necessary to reduce the monthly housing costs of low-income residents to an affordable level. All of the following shall apply to loans made to resident organizations pursuant to this section:

(1) To the extent possible, loan amounts shall not exceed 50 percent of the conversion costs attributable to the low-income spaces. However, the loan amounts may be for up to 95 percent of the conversion costs attributable to the low-income spaces when approved by the department.

(2) The department may grant approval to exceed 50 percent of the conversion costs attributable to low-income spaces only if both of the following are demonstrated:

(A) That the applicant has made an effort to secure additional funds from other sources and these funds are not available.

(B) That the project would not be feasible as determined by the department without a waiver of the 50-percent financing limitation.

(3) The total secured debt in a superior position to the department’s loan plus the department’s loan shall not exceed 115 percent of the value of the collateral securing the loan plus the amount of costs incidentally, but directly, related to the acquisition and, if applicable, rehabilitation of the park.

(f) Funds provided pursuant to this section shall not be used to assist residents who are not of low income or to reduce monthly housing costs for low-income residents to less than 30 percent of their monthly income.

(g) Subject to the restrictions of this subdivision, funds provided pursuant to this section may be used to finance the costs of relocating a mobilehome park to a more suitable site within the same jurisdiction if the department determines that the cost of the relocation, including any and all relocation costs to the affected households, is a more prudent expenditure of funds than the costs of needed or repetitive repairs to the existing park. Funds provided pursuant to this section shall not be used to relieve a park owner of any responsibility for covering the costs of mitigating the impacts of a park closure as may be provided for by local ordinance or pursuant to Section 65863.7 or 66427.4 of the Government Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 493, Sec. 4. (AB 225) Effective September 20, 2014.)