HCS HB 998 & 905 -- MOBILE HOME LEASE COMMUNITIES

SPONSOR:  Behnen (Sutherland)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Professional Registration and Licensing by a vote of 14 to 0.

This substitute requires mobile home park landlords to provide
notice to mobile homeowners 120 days before demanding that they
vacate the property due to a change in the use of the property.
The length of the required notice will be the remaining period on
the lease when that remaining period is more than 120 days.  The
substitute also prohibits landlords from raising the rent within
60 days of providing the notice, except for a rent increase based
solely on an increase in property taxes.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2005, FY 2006, and
FY 2007.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that landlords only have to give a
60-day notice of a change of land use regarding  property on
which a mobile home park is located.  This places an extreme
burden on the tenants because 60 days is not enough time for
tenants to move.  In most cases, it takes about four months to
relocate a mobile home.  These relocations are very costly to
tenants, and many parks won't take mobile homes which were
manufactured before a certain date.  Increasing the notification
from 60 to 120 days is not going to resolve the problems faced by
tenants, but it is a start.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Sutherland and
Riback Wilson (25); Lawrence McGuire; Alliance for Justice;
Miriam Mahon; Missouri Manufactured Housing Association; Missouri
Catholic Conference; Grass Roots Organizing; and American Civil
Liberties Union.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say they do not oppose the
120-day notice.

Others testifying on the bill was Missouri Association of
Realtors.

Bob Dominique, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:14 am