If
you sign a rental agreement prior to occupancy in
a manufactured home park, the agreement may
or may not allow you to change your
mind and cancel it during a "cooling off"
period. Check on this.
Rents
can and do go up. The homesite space rent could
increase periodically, out of proportion with your
ability to pay, especially if your income is fixed.
When parks are sold, rents may increase. Remember
that you - not the landlord - are
responsible for your ability to pay rent.
Your
tenancy may legally terminate: (a) if you fail to
pay rent or you violate a law, an ordinance or the
conditions of tenancy in the park; (b) if you are
late with the rent payment and written notice is
given three or more times within a 12 month period;
(c) if the park closes, or; (d) when your rental/lease
agreement term expires and is not renewed.
Occasionally,
rising rents or termination of tenancy or park closure
may cause homeowners to bear moving costs. Manufactured
homes are not easily moved. You could also have
difficulty finding a new place to put your home.
You
are free to terminate your tenancy and to leave
the park on thirty (30) days written notice without
obligation to the landlord. The landlord is free
to close all or a portion of the park on twelve
(12) months written notice without obligation to
you.
The
law does not require you to sell your home to the
landlord. It also does not obligate the landlord
to sell the park or your lot to you.
The
law allows the landlord to place reasonable restrictions
on who lives in your home and the qualifications
of any purchaser of your home if it is to remain
in the community. Read your rental agreement and
park Rules and Regulations.
Some
mobile home parks offer you more security in the
form of long-term lease agreements, which may provide
more predictable rent increases.
Manufactured
home park living can offer real value for your housing
dollar, but remember tat no form of private housing
can guarantee you a place to live forever without
regard to your ability to pay the costs of that
housing. Before you buy a home or rent a space,
find out:
How
often will your rent be increased and how are
the increases determined?
How
long can you afford to stay there?
LEARN
THE FACTS - MAKE THE HOUSING CHOICE THAT'S RIGHT FOR
YOU - GET YOUR AGREEMENT IN WRITING - THEN ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THAT DECISION AND THE CONSEQUENCES.
