The state House this week passed and sent to the governor legislation authored by Montgomery County state Reps. Rick Taylor and Kate Harper (a member of the PLAN Board of Directors), that would protect residents living in manufactured housing communities from unexpected ground rent fees.

“I have spoken with mobile home park residents, many of whom live on a fixed income, and I can say without a doubt that they simply cannot afford to be arbitrarily slapped with increases to their ground rent or lot fees,” Taylor said.

The bill, House Bill 2212, applies to homeowners residing in communities in which they own their homes but rent the land on which they are located. Under the bill, manufactured home community owners would be required to provide potential lessees with a disclosure that includes:

• Information about how and when rent can be increased;
• A three-year history of the rental rate for the tenant’s lot; and
• Information regarding utility fees and park facilities, rules and regulations.

“This measure is so important to senior citizens in retirement communities in Montgomery County and across the state,” said Harper. “During these especially difficult economic times, seniors can’t afford to be blind-sided by sudden increases in their living expenses.

“When this becomes law, seniors will be armed with enough information to help them decide if this kind of community is a good fit for them and for their budgets, and they will get ample warning before their fees are increased,” she said.

Listen to additional comments from Rep. Harper:

“Representative Harper, Senator Greenleaf and I have worked diligently to ensure that the owners of these communities fully disclose to residents how and when rent can be increased,” Taylor said. “We successfully shepherded this bill through our respective chambers, and I am pleased our colleagues recognized that many Pennsylvania homeowners would benefit from full disclosure regarding these fees.”