Procedure for disputing privileges

A property owner and a mortgage holder shall have the right to dispute a privilege created against a mortgaged property under R.S. 33:5068, if the work creating a privilege was not performed on the property. A privilege may be disputed by submitting an affidavit to the governing authority. The affidavit shall be made by someone with knowledge of the condition of property, providing a statement that the work giving rise to the lien was not performed on the subject property, and giving an explanation as to why it believes the work was not performed on the property. Additional documentation may be submitted with the affidavit, such as pictures of the identity and condition of the property, and invoices or records showing that work was performed privately. Upon receiving the affidavit and other documentation, the governing authority shall have thirty days to investigate the dispute and respond by either producing pictures or records to prove that the privilege established on the property for work performed is accurate, or by issuing a written release and cancellation of the privilege.