Senator Shaheen (D-NH) and Representative Petterson (D-CO) Introduce “Manufactured Housing Tenant’s Bill of Rights”

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Representative Brittany Petterson (D-CO) introduced the “Manufactured Housing Tenant’s Bill of Rights” (S.1194/H.R.2461) to support tenant protections for tenants and owners of manufactured homes. The bill would create tenant protection requirements for Manufactured Home Communities (MHCs) that get financing from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Fannie Mae (“Fannie”), or Freddie Mac (“Freddie”). NLIHC endorsed the bill.  

The bill would enact the following tenant protections for MHCs financed by FHFA, Fannie, or Freddie: 1) The right to a one-year renewable lease absent good cause for nonrenewal; 2) A 5-day grace period for late rent payments, and 3) A minimum 60-day written notice of rent increases or new added charges like water or sewer of up to 5% of the prior rent, with longer notice for larger rent increases (an additional 30 days required for each 2.5% rent increase above 5%). 

The bill also provides for certain consumer protections for tenants who own their home (but not the land) to:   

• Sell the manufactured home without having to relocate it; 

• Sublet the home or assign the lease to a buyer of the home provided the buyer meets the MHC’s rules and regulations; 

• Post “for sale” signs on the home; 

• Sell the manufactured home in place within 45 days after eviction to prevent the homeowner from losing their equity; and  

• Receive at least 60 days advanced notice of the MHC’s planned sale or closure, giving tenants the opportunity to purchase another home in the community in the event of a sale.  

Read the press statement on the bill here.