I live in a mobile home park and the owner says he's going to kick me out if I don't make some updates to my home. I can't afford it right now, and I can't afford to move. Can I be forced to move?
Part of the answer may be found in the written lease you signed to have your mobile home positioned in the mobile home park, according to Johns, Flaherty & Collins attorney Greg Bonney.
"Mobile home parks must have a written lease agreement with attached rules and regulations," he said. "Typically, the rules and regulations contain guidelines for maintaining your mobile home and surrounding area. If the rules and regulations are violated, you could be required to leave the park."
If a mobile home presents a threat to the health or safety of its occupants or others in the park, state or local authorities could require the home be vacated. A lease could also be terminated if the physical appearance of the mobile home disrupts the rights of others to enjoy and use the park.
However, the law does not allow the owner of a mobile home park to require a new mobile home be purchased or discriminate against you solely because of the age of your mobile home or because the ownership or occupancy of the mobile home has changed.
Like any other landlord, a park owner or operator has the right to screen prospective tenants. If a mobile home is sold, the park owner could refuse to allow the mobile home to remain in the park if the prospective owner does not meet certain reasonable and lawful criteria.
For more information about landlord-tenant issues, contact us at 608-784-5678.