Notices

The Residency Law expects park owners and managers to provide the following notices. Notices may be posted, delivered personally or mailed to home owners (MRL Code Section 798.14).

• Managers must give home owners written notice of any rent increases at least ninety days before the date of the increase (MRL Code Section 798.30).
• Rental agreements may identify services that parks provide residents and fees for these services. Managers must provide written notices to home owners at least sixty days before imposing or increasing service fees (MRL Code Section 798.31).
• On occasion utility service might be interrupted for maintenance, repair or replacement of facilities. If service will be interrupted for more than two hours, park managers must post a written notice on all affected homes at least 72 hours in advance. This rule does not apply to emergencies (MRL Code Section 798.42).
• The Residency Law requires managers to notify home owners and buyers of the zoning or use permit under which parks operate. Parks may lease land from other property owners. Managers must notify home owners of any such leases. If a change occurs in zoning, a use permit or a lease that affects the park, park managers must notify all home owners within thirty days of that change. Buyers shall be notified prior to the beginning of their tenancy. If a park’s use permit or lease is about to expire or needs to be renewed, the germane information and dates should be included in a notice to home owners (MRL Code Section 798.27).
• Owners may decide to sell a park. Park residents can receive notification of the pending sale. Residents must form a home owners' organization. The organization must allually notify the park owner of the residents' interest in purchasing the park and provide the names of the organization's officers.  The Residency Law requires owners to notify the officers of a home owners’ organization that their park is for sale. (MRL Code Section 798.80).
• Parks may be owned by individuals, partnerships and corporations. Owners may hire management firms to handle the day-to-day operations of a park. Sometimes it may be difficult for home owners to know who actually owns a park. The Residency Law requires that managers disclose the name, business address and business telephone number of park owners when requested by a homeowner (MRL Code Section 798.28).
• Park managers must post the mobile home ombudsman sign provided by the Department of Housing and Community Development (MRL Code Section 798.29).

Copyright - Carl Eric Leivo, Ph.D.

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