HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 994

BYRepresentatives Todd, Cantwell, Crane, J. Williams, Leonard, Nutley, Sanders, Moyer, Dellwo and Schoon

Creating an office of mobile home affairs.

House Committe on Housing

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (9)

     Signed by Representatives Nutley, Chair; Leonard, Vice Chair; Armstrong, Barnes, Ebersole, Padden, Sanders, Todd andJ. Williams.

House Staff:Charlie Gavigan (786-7340)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HOUSING MARCH 3, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Mobile homes or manufactured homes are factory-built homes, the construction of which, since 1976, has been regulated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  These homes are built with wheel chassis.  Once put on a site, the wheels, hitch, and axles are often removed to make the home more permanent. However, these can be put back on, or never removed, to make the home "mobile".

Mobile or manufactured homes are placed on land that is either owned by the mobile home owner or is leased from someone. Some units are in parks composed of many mobile home lots or spaces, which are leased out to a tenants.  Others are on city lots, and still others are on acreage.

Disputes between landlords and tenants of mobile homes, or between park owners and home owners, occur on a regular basis.  Both areas are covered by state law in the mobile home landlord tenant act.  How effective these laws are at resolving disputes is often argued by both sides of the issue.  No state agency is responsible for overseeing this area.  Often, the parties' only real remedy is the courts, or the tenant can choose to vacate.  Vacating can include moving the mobile or manufactured home.

The Department of Community Development is a department created to assist in providing financial and technical assistance to the communities of the state, to assist in improving the delivery of federal, state, and local programs, and to provide communities with access to opportunities for productive and coordinated development beneficial to the well-being of the communities and their residents.  A significant portion of the department's efforts have focused on housing issues.

An ombudsman is generally thought of as a government official charged with investigating citizens' complaints, or one who helps to achieve settlements between parties in dispute.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  An office of mobile home affairs is created in the Department of Community Development.  The office will deal with matters relating to mobile or manufactured homes, and will promote effective utilization of mobile homes.

The mobile home affairs office will provide an ombudsman service to assist in the resolution of disputes within the scope of the landlord tenant act and to help access governmental services related to the health and safety of mobile home parks.

The office is also asked to develop policies and strategies to promote utilization of mobile or manufactured homes which will enhance the supply of safe and low cost housing in the state.

A five member advisory committee composed of one representative each from mobile home manufacturers, mobile home park owners, mobile home tenants, local government and the public is established.  This advisory committee is to provide input to the Department of Community Development regarding mobile home issues including mobile home landlord tenant issues.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  A five member advisory committee is established to provide input regarding mobile home issues.

Fiscal Note:    Requested February 24, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Gary McFadden, Washington Mobile Park Owners Association; John Jensen, Mobile Home Owners Association; and S. J. Kolcsey, Washington Mobile Park Owners Association.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     The measure would establish a central depository to analyze disputes between park owners and tenants, and to collect data on mobile home parks, spaces and rents within the state.  An advisory committee could facilitate problem identification and solution, and improve communication by including the different interests involved in these issues.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.