1. The lots or lands held under contract of lease, alienation for rent or constitut, upon which the holder, the lessee, the party owing the rent or their auteurs have built a house at their own cost which is used as a dwelling or place of business by the lessee or holder of the immoveable or have made improvements thereon, the value whereof is equal to or exceeds that of the lot or land, may be acquired by the latter, in full ownership, upon paying the value thereof to the proprietor after fulfilling the formalities hereinafter set forth.
R. S. 1964, c. 322, s. 1.