Minnesota Administrative Rules

4900.0670 ELIGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS.

Subpart 1.

Requirements.

Improvements made with home improvement grant or loan funds shall satisfy the following requirements.

Subp. 2.

Permanent general improvement.

Each improvement shall be a permanent general improvement. Permanent general improvements shall include additions, alterations, renovations, or repairs upon or in connection with existing structures, which correct defects or deficiencies in the property affecting directly the safety, habitability, or energy usage of the property. Permanent general improvements shall be economically viable in terms of a determination that the structure will have a reasonable life expectancy after the improvement is made, and the structure will be reasonably livable, safe, and habitable after the improvement is made.

Permanent general improvements shall not include materials, fixtures, or landscaping of a type or quality exceeding that customarily used in the locality for decent, safe, and sanitary properties of the same general type as the property to be improved.

Subp. 3.

Compliance with housing codes and standards.

Each improvement shall be made in compliance with all applicable health, fire prevention, building, and housing codes and standards; provided, however, that no application for a home improvement grant or loan shall be denied solely because the improvements will not bring such property into full compliance with all such codes and standards.

Subp. 4.

Funds not to be used to pay assessments.

Funds provided under parts 4900.0610 to 4900.0700 shall not be used for the payment, wholly or in part, of assessments for public improvements; provided, however, that such funds may be used for that portion of improvements located on the property which will bring an individual water supply system or a sewage disposal system (including septic systems) into compliance with local, state, or federal environmental and sanitary standards.

Subp. 5.

Warranty of construction and materials.

All contracts covering all or any portion of an improvement shall contain an agency-approved warranty of construction and materials.

Subp. 6.

Funds not to be used to refinance or pay off existing indebtedness.

No grant or loan funds shall be used for the purpose of refinancing or paying off existing indebtedness. All such funds shall be used to finance improvements begun after application for such funds has been approved.

Subp. 7.

Mobile homes.

For mobile homes taxed as personal property or not permanently affixed to real property eligible improvements shall be limited to the following:

A.

improvements which bring the property into compliance with current standards for energy efficiency, fire safety, and anchoring systems;

B.

improvements to remedy imminent safety hazards, or accessibility modifications; and

C.

other permanent general improvements, if after completion of all improvements the mobile home will comply with the standards referred to in item A.

Subp. 8.

Improvements for accessibility to a dwelling for persons with disabilities.

Improvements which affect the accessibility of a dwelling for a person with a disability are eligible improvements provided that they are performed in compliance with the following conditions:

A.

the improvement must be an accessibility improvement as defined in part 4900.0710, subpart 1;

B.

the beneficiary of the improvements must occupy or intend to occupy the dwelling unit to be improved as his or her principal residence; and

C.

architectural or engineering costs incurred in the design of accessibility improvements may be funded as eligible improvements.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 462A.06

History:

17 SR 1279; L 2005 c 56 s 2

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008