JURIST - Paper Chase: Louisiana to lift eviction ban to help Katrina rebuilding effort

[JURIST] Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco [official website] announced on Thursday that she will not extend an eviction ban, allowing landlords to start making repairs to houses and apartments damaged by Hurricane Katrina [JURIST news archive]. Starting Tuesday, landlords may once again initiate eviction procedures [executive order, PDF; press release]. State law permits evictions if the property becomes uninhabitable; landlords had complained that the ban had prevented them from repairing properties where residents hadn't returned. Lifting the ban was urged to help speed the rebuilding process. Even with lifting the ban on evictions, legal issues remain. Landlords say the rules on abandonment and right to enter are unclear, and legislative action is expected. Key issues include removal and disposal of personal property from damaged units and possible rent control/anti-gouging regulations. From New Orleans, the Times-Picayune has more.

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