Environmental Assessment June 1989

Home

The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-646) was signed into law and made effective on January 2, 1971. Its main objective was to provide for uniform and equitable treatment of persons displaced from their homes, businesses, or farms by Federal and federally assisted programs and to establish uniform and equitable land acquisition policies for such programs.* Any families and individuals displaced from their dwellings may receive two kinds of relocation payments. One kind of payment would cover the costs of moving any personal property subject to certain limitations. The other type of payment would cover the cost of obtaining replacement housing. The act also guarantees that there will be comparable,. decent, safe and sanitary housing available. Displaced families are eligible for actual, reasonable expenses in moving personal property. However, the family must be in occupancy of the property at the initiation of negotiations or at the time they are given written notice of intent to acquire the property or at the time of acquisition of the project. Reim- bursement of moving costs is further limited to moves of fifty miles or less. The actual costs of a commercial mover are eligi- ble as are the actual costs of a self move, so long as the costs of the self move do not exceed the costs of a commercial mover. Moves on the basis of a fixed schedule are also permitted. For owner occupants of more than 180 days prior to initiation of negotiations, there are replacement housing payments available. These payments total an amount which when added to the cost of the dwelling acquired equals the reasonable cost of a comparable, decent, safe and sanitary dwelling. Persons forced to move may also be eligible for a payment to cover the increased interest expense they are required to pay due to higher mortgage rates. They may also be eligible for reasonable expenses incurred for evidence of title, recording fees and other closing costs. The total Federal share of these payments cannot exceed $15,000. If an owner -occupant of 180 days or more prefers to rent replace- ment housing, he may be eligible for up to $4,000. This amount is to cover the difference between the economic rent of the acquired dwelling and the amount required to rent comparable, decent, safe and sanitary housing. * The information for this subsection is from the following sources: Sites for Public Airports (Washington, D.C: Federal Aviation Administration, 1974). Guidelines for Relocation Assistance and Real Property, Acquisition (Federal Regional Council, Region 5: Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Task Force). Land Acquisition and Relocation Assistance Under the Airport Development Aid Program (Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 150/5100-11), February 10, 1975. 2-32