Section 26-305. Expenses of relocation pursuant to vacate order

1. Whenever
  the department of housing  preservation  and  development  has  incurred
  expenses  in  providing  relocation  services  for  tenants  pursuant to
  subparagraph (v) of paragraph (a) of subdivision one of  section  26-301
  of  this  chapter,  the department shall be entitled to reimbursement of
  such expenses from the owner of the building  from  which  such  tenants
  were  relocated,  if  the  conditions  giving  rise to the need for such
  relocation arose as a result of the negligent  or  intentional  acts  of
  such  owner,  or  as  a  result  of  his or her failure to maintain such
  dwelling in accordance with the standards prescribed by the  housing  or
  health  code  governing  such  dwelling.  "Owner"  for  purposes of this
  section shall mean and include the owner or owners of  the  freehold  of
  the  premises  or  lesser  estate  therein,  a  mortgagee  or  vendee in
  possession, assignee of  rents,  receiver,  executor,  trustee,  lessee,
  agent,  or any other person, firm or corporation, directly or indirectly
  in control of a dwelling.
    2. The expenses incurred for which payment to the  department  is  due
  under the provisions of this section shall include but not be limited to
  departmental   costs,  bonuses,  moving  expenses  or  other  reasonable
  allowances given to induce tenants to relocate voluntarily.
    3. The department may bring  an  action  against  the  owner  for  the
  recovery  of  such  expenses.  The  institution of such action shall not
  suspend or bar the right to pursue any other  remedy  provided  by  this
  section or any other law for the recovery of such expenses.
    4.  To  the  extent  that  such  expenses  are  not  recovered  by the
  department, they shall, except as herein provided, constitute a lien  or
  liens  upon  such building and the lot upon which it stands, governed by
  the provisions of law regulating mechanics' liens.
    (a) No such lien shall be valid for any purpose until  the  department
  shall  file  a  notice  of  lien  containing the same particulars as are
  required to be stated with  reference  to  mechanics'  liens,  with  the
  further  statement  that  the  expenses had been incurred for relocation
  services provided pursuant to  subparagraph  (v)  of  paragraph  (a)  of
  subdivision  one  of  section  26-301  of  this  chapter together with a
  statement of such expenses. The department may file  one  or  more  such
  liens  for  relocation  expenses  incurred  with respect to any building
  within one year of incurring any such expenses. In  computing  such  one
  year  period,  the latest date on which any expense in relation to which
  such notice was filed has been incurred shall  be  deemed  the  date  on
  which all of the expenses stated in such notice were incurred.
    (b)  Such  lien or liens shall continue for a period of ten years from
  the time of filing of notice thereof,  unless  proceedings  are  in  the
  meantime  taken  to  enforce  or  discharge  such  lien  or liens, which
  proceedings may be taken at any time during the continuance of such lien
  or liens or unless an order is granted within ten years from the time of
  the filing of any such lien or liens by a court of record or a judge  or
  justice  thereof  continuing such lien or liens, in which case such lien
  or liens shall be redocketed as of the date of granting such order and a
  statement made continuing such lien or liens by virtue of such order. No
  lien shall be continued by such order for more than ten years  from  the
  granting  thereof,  but  a  new  order  and  entry  may  be made in each
  successive ten-year period. Any judgment in a proceeding to  enforce  or
  discharge  such lien shall constitute a lien in the same manner and from
  the same  date  as  the  original  lien.  The  initiation  of  any  such
  proceedings  shall  not  suspend  or  bar  the right to pursue any other
  remedy provided by this section or any other law  for  the  recovery  of
  such expenses.

    (c)  Notwithstanding  anything  to the contrary in paragraph b of this
  subdivision, a lien which already exists and is  currently  docketed  on
  the  effective  date of the local law that added this paragraph shall be
  deemed continued for a period of ten years commencing from the  date  of
  the last renewal or docketing of said lien, whichever is later.