Manufactured Housing Tenants Shifting the Balance of Power

Manufactured Housing Tenants Shifting the Balance of Power

This and Related Reports

Report Home Manufactured homes (frequently referred to as "mobile homes") are a major source of housing for older Americans. In 2001, owners age 50 or older accounted for 43 percent of the 7.2 million manufactured-housing units occupied year round as primary residences. Manufactured-home ownership does not necessarily imply ownership of the lot on which the home sits. In fact, nearly one-third of occupied manufactured homes are in land-lease communities. This type of housing arrangement is appealing to people with low or moderate income who may find it difficult to acquire land. However, the cost and risk of moving a manufactured home from one rental community to another create significant barriers for homeowners who need or want to move. These barriers make it possible for a segment of community operators to adopt exploitive rules and practices that are unique to this type of housing arrangement. The model statute presented in this report by the AARP Public Policy Institute provides a context in which to discuss the problems and issues facing residents in manufactured-home communities and to provide advocates and state legislators with a useful tool for evaluating their own statutory protections for these residents. Among its many statutory provisions, the model law accomplishes the following: Prohibits an operator of a manufactured-home community from requiring that a resident purchase equipment from a specific supplier.
Establishes a 2-year lease, renewable indefinitely.
Prohibits a number of hidden fees.
Requires uniform enforcement of community rules.
Clarifies rights of residents to organize peacefully. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

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