(a) Any real property heretofore or hereafter sold for the satisfaction of an assessment lien imposed thereon by the governing body of a municipality may be redeemed by the former owner, or his or her assigns, or other persons authorized to redeem property sold for taxes by the state, within two years from the date of the sale by depositing with the officer designated by the municipality to collect the assessments the amount of money for which the lands were sold, with interest thereon at the rate of 12 percent per annum from the date of the sale through the date of the payment.
(b) In addition to any other requirements set forth in this section, the proposed redemptioner must pay or tender the purchaser or his transferee all insurance premiums paid or owed by the purchaser with accrued interest on the payments computed from the date the premiums were paid at 12 percent per annum through the date of payment.
(c) In addition to any other requirements set forth in this section, the proposed redemptioner must pay or tender to the purchaser or his transferee the value of all permanent improvements made on the property determined in accordance with this section. As used herein "permanent improvements" shall include, but not be limited to, all repairs, improvements, and equipment attached to the property as fixtures. The proposed redemptioner shall make written demand upon the purchaser of a statement of the value of all permanent improvements made on the property since the assessment sale. In response to written demand made pursuant to this section, the purchaser shall within 10 days from the receipt of the demand, furnish the proposed redemptioner with the amount claimed as the value of the permanent improvements, and within 10 days after receipt of the response, the proposed redemptioner either shall accept the value so stated by the purchaser, or disagreeing therewith, shall appoint a referee to ascertain the value of the permanent improvements. The proposed redemptioner shall in writing (i) notify the purchaser of his or her disagreement as to the value; and (ii) inform the purchaser of the name of the referee appointed by him or her. Within 10 days after the receipt of the notice, the purchaser shall appoint a referee to ascertain the value of the permanent improvements and advise the proposed redemptioner of the name of the appointee. The two referees shall, within 10 days after the purchaser has appointed his or her referee, meet and confer upon the award to be made by them. If they cannot agree, the referees shall at once appoint an umpire, and the award by a majority of the body shall be made within 10 days after the appointment of the umpire and shall be final between the parties.
(d) If the proposed redemptioner fails or refuses to nominate a referee as provided in subsection (c), he or she shall pay the value put upon the improvements by the purchaser. If the purchaser refuses or fails to appoint a referee, as provided in subsection (c), the purchaser shall forfeit his or her claim to compensation for the improvements. The failure of the referees or either of them to act or to appoint an umpire shall not operate to impair or forfeit the right of either the proposed redemptioner or the purchaser in the premises. In the event of failure without fault of the parties to affect an award, the appropriate court shall proceed to ascertain the true value of the permanent improvements and enforce the redemption accordingly.
(e) In addition to all other payments provided hereunder, the proposed redemptioner shall also pay interest to the purchaser on the value of all permanent improvements computed from the date the improvements were made at the rate of 12 percent per annum through the date of the payment.
Last modified: May 3, 2021