Illinois has recently passed three significant laws that enhance the rights and living conditions of mobile home park residents, providing them with better protection and more control over their living environments.
Strengthened Licensing and Compliance
Public Act 103-0819 introduces stringent regulations under the Mobile Home Park Act, requiring mobile home parks to adhere to stricter licensing and operational standards. The law mandates annual inspections and establishes a tiered licensing fee system, emphasizing the importance of compliance for maintaining high service and safety standards. These changes aim to ensure that residents live in well-maintained environments, and parks failing to meet standards will face a $300 reinspection fee.
Empowering Residents with Purchase Rights
Under Public Act 103-0766, mobile home park residents now have the right of first refusal when their park is listed for sale. This critical amendment to the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Rights Act allows residents, through a homeowners’ association, to match the sale terms offered to third parties, giving them a potential pathway to ownership. This law notably excludes transfers to family members or government entities from its purview, focusing on empowering tenants to secure their housing future.
Protection Against Unfair Eviction
Public Act 103-0630 further amends the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Rights Act by detailing and restricting the grounds for eviction. A key provision protects tenants from being evicted for non-payment of rent if the park has not met its licensing requirements. Additionally, the law protects tenants from retaliatory evictions, particularly those active in homeowners’ associations or reporting park violations, ensuring residents can voice concerns without fear of losing their homes.
Additional Tips for Residents:
- Record-Keeping: Residents should meticulously document all interactions with park management and maintenance requests to safeguard against potential disputes.
- Inspection Readiness: Understanding the inspection criteria and maintaining homes in compliance can prevent infractions.
- Active Participation: Involvement in homeowners’ associations can give residents a collective voice and bargaining power, especially relevant under the new purchase rights law.
- Legal Resources: Residents should seek out legal aid organizations for assistance in navigating their rights and any disputes that arise.
- Community Engagement: Staying informed about local government decisions affecting mobile homes can offer residents a proactive stance in managing their living conditions.
As I come close to being a 20 yr resident at a Mobile Home Park in the Great State of Illinois… I feel like with all of the commotion going on about the sales of the Park itself has lead to Illegal practices on which the LLC has been practicing upon its residents. Raising the rent, giving only 5 days to pay or YOU CANT STAY should be a practice that no one in their right mind could deliver me a notice telling me I’ve got 5 days or 10 or even 30 days to get out and get my trailer packed up and off their property! I’ve put in nearly $60,000.00 into the trailer Park itself and by law my trailer cannot be moved because of the age of it! it wasn’t like this when the trailer was moved here in 2004 or else we would have gone elsewhere. Who can predict the future of when things might change for you? The new management at our mobile home park says they care about their tenants, yet they slap you with this eviction notice knowing you’ve been down. This is not a caring place and hasn’t been a caring place for years now! As far as I’m concerned they have these people move in thinking they’ve passed the credit check, when knowing all along THAT THEY WILL FAIL resulting in that person losing that so called property back to them, then letting the next unexpected victim move in right behind. What kind of people are they? We actually met one of the owners (Mark?) as he did a visit interacting with the residents and he asked how it was being a resident in the park. I myself told him I didn’t mind it, but that was before the management took over and started treating us with such little respect acting as if we were just dollar signs instead of real people! They even wrote a nice note to us stating that we may be out of range of what the other MHP’s were paying, but promised not to get out of hand with a $15 or $20 raise here or there, ending up now paying double from when they took over and are now basing the rent upon the surrounding neighborhoods, which happen to be some very pricy places and fairly high taxed farmland areas. I just don’t get it, when our trailers new and old sit among a lake that isn’t really that nice and swampland all around! If you’ll look into the land mass on public record you’ll also find that this is called “WASTELAND”… So really now. What’s more important to me is that the length of time you have to get out.. as a more or less permanent fixture in this place! They took us on buying the place knowing we were here 1st, but surprised us with eviction notices that will stay on our civil records mind you. Losing your home and all you have, because of the slab of concrete underneath it????? Now I’m not saying I’m perfect by any means and there have been times when I fell behind, but I wasn’t leaving them without their money. They know I’m not going anywhere, but use the law and their Attorney to put in motion AN eviction which shouldn’t be for the people who already own their trailer and have been here for nearly 20 years, but the ones who are just beginning with them giving them the option to walk into the sale or not, BECAUSE I SURE WOULDNT BE HERE IF I DIDNT HAVE TO BE STUCK. Giving them all rights to push us out! Not a fair thing to do for the people they SAY they care about!
They do this to everyone. The owners in this place in Illinois own Many Mobile Home parks all over the US, The managers are bad apples and like fermented apples as well . They have “rules” That arent enforced unless you have something to tell them and then they find something wrong with your place or anything to retaliate because you called and told them something that they dont want to do anything about . Also the people who own and work for all of these mobile homes go to court and get the state to pass laws that hurt the land renters/owners of the dump homes they sold us so we are trapped in a money eating mobile home. They charge for parking for some and not the rest. They say you can have 2 cars in your driveway and all over the road and yet many have 3 and 4 cars and dont pay a dime extra like others who are pay 50.00 extra to park for their extra car. The managers are revenge lovers if you ask a question. The rules are Bologna and only apply to 1or2 out of 100. We see violations multiple times a day and if you say anything they say stupid things like Why would someone do that? but if it was us you can bet there be right over here. The lease is a joke and they tell you to leave if you dont like it . If I could I would, a mobile home is a trap and there are No people around who want to work on a mobile home and the park has no one you can pay for work etc. Dont ever buy a mobile home they arent worth it and Mobile home corporate owners and managers are like human resources= Not for the people only for themselves. Trailers are not a good investment and fall apart within a few years and mobile how parts are outrages and most things from lowes menards etc dont fit mobile homes. Managers get the profits of the mobile they sold you and within a few years you could have bought a house for the rip off rent and break downs of crappy made trailers and then you are trapped for ever if your trailer can stand up that long. They need rent caps, the owners/workers go to court and keep winning for not allowing rent caps because there is no one to represent mobile home owners. Trailers are Horrible and the owners/managers. They never “improve” your mobile home parks. Michigan has 200-500 rent caps we need that here. Mobile homes are not safe.