New Manufactured Home Protections Increase Housing Stability
Residents in manufactured homes are getting more help to ensure they can continue to live comfortably even when their communities are facing a change in ownership. Where renters previously faced insecurity with the possibility of new community ownership raising rental prices, the City’s new ordinance, O-24-52, is creating a new route to address that concern: the possibility for ownership.
“When these communities are sold to different ownership groups, it opens the door for the new management to raise rents by as much as 40%—something that can create serious financial stress, especially for those living on fixed incomes,” said Chief of Staff Terry Brunner. “We’re making sure that residents aren’t locked into that situation by offering an alternative for them to take their housing status into the own hands.”
The new ordinance will require ownership groups to allow residents a chance to buy the property their manufactured home is on before the land is sold. Residents will be provided with notice from ownership before the land is sold, leased, or transferred, allowing them to work with current ownership to negotiate a deal for their land to be purchased at a fair market price.
“We’ve heard countless stories about people losing their homes when new ownership groups come in and raise the rent unexpectedly, leaving them without stable housing,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “This is one step to protect folks who live in manufactured housing, giving them a chance to buy their land and stay where they are, and we’re going to keep pushing for stronger renter’s rights.”
“This ordinance is a significant step forward in protecting the rights of our manufactured home community residents,” said District 6 Councilor Nichole Rogers, the bill’s sponsor. “By empowering residents and promoting stability, we are working to ensure that these communities remain affordable and welcoming places to live.”