Any person residing in employee housing subject to this part may file an administrative complaint orally or in writing with the enforcement agency. The enforcement agency shall deliver a summary or copy of the complaint, by mail or in person, to the owner or operator, at the time of filing the complaint.
If a civil action under this part has not been filed by the enforcement agency within 21 days after receipt of the complaint, the complainant may bring a civil action for injunctive or declaratory relief and appropriate statutory damages, civil penalties, actual damages, penalties, and other remedies which arise from any violation of this part, building standards published in the State Building Standards Code relating to employee housing, regulations adopted pursuant to this part, or conditions of the permit.
In any civil action under this section, if the enforcement agency certifies that the employee housing is in compliance with this part, building standards published in the State Building Standards Code relating to employee housing, regulations adopted pursuant to this part, and conditions of the permit, no injunctive relief related to mandatory repairs shall be granted with respect to any alleged violation covered by the certificate.
In any civil action brought by a private person or entity under this section, the private person or entity may be granted reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, in addition to any other remedy granted, if the private person or entity prevails, and if the trier of fact finds that the violations involve retaliation or are so extensive and of such a nature that the immediate health and safety of residents or the public is endangered or has been endangered.
If a complainant alleges, and the court finds, that residents of the employee housing were in imminent peril as a result of serious violations of this part, the complainant may immediately proceed with the filing of a civil action without regard to the 21-day waiting period specified in subdivision (b).
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