Provided by Del. Luke Torian’s Office
The state Senate passed House Bill 1249 by a vote of 39-1 on Tuesday. The Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act now moves to the Governor’s desk for signature. This act will grant additional legal protections to residents of manufactured home parks facing eviction, including the right to organize for community ownership.
Del. Torian’s Statement
Delegate Torian issued the following statement: “Manufactured home parks are the largest segment of non-subsidized affordable housing in the country, but they are being sold and bulldozed to allow for new development. Park tenants are easily caught up in cycles of eviction and housing insecurity. The rising value of land and interest in development, especially in Northern Virginia, is one cause of the issues as park owners are incentivized to sell.
“The fact that mobile homes are not actually mobile is a reason that the parks are a profitable business model. Residents own their homes, but not the land they are on, and it is difficult or impossible to move them if the land changes ownership. By the time residents find out their park is being sold, it is usually too late to advocate for themselves or save their homes. My bill requires a 60- to 180-day written notice–depending on the circumstances of the sale–and consideration of offers made by a resident association or representative nonprofit that wishes to purchase the land.
“I was motivated by the story of the East End Mobile Home Park in Manassas. The park’s owner failed to keep it up to code for years and its water and sewage systems became a public health issue. The City of Manassas decided to purchase the park to address the neglect, but it would have meant closing the park and evicting the residents. In the end, a nonprofit was able to purchase that park to make repairs without shutting it down. When residents are given notice of a possible sale, adequate time to organize, and consideration, they have a chance for community ownership or outside intervention. I am proud that will now be law.”
