S-1514               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5787

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Senators Warnke and Smitherman

Read first time 2/13/87 and referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

AN ACT Relating to mobile homes; and adding new sections to chapter 59.20 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     (1) A mobile-manufactured home located in a mobile home park is abandoned when:

          (a) There is a default on rental payments;

          (b) There is apparent physical abandonment of the premises;

          (c) The landlord gives written notice to a law enforcement officer that the landlord believes a mobile-manufactured home is abandoned, stating the reasons for that belief.  The law enforcement officer shall obtain the last known names and addresses of registered and legal owners of the mobile home as the names and addresses appear on the records of the department of licensing, and shall supply the information to the landlord without charge; and

          (d) The landlord sends by first class and certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, a notice of intent to declare the abandonment of the tenancy and the mobile home to the last known address of the tenant, and registered owner of the mobile home, if different, and no reply is received within thirty days of the mailing of the notice.  This notice shall state that if no reply is received within thirty days from the date of mailing that the landlord shall determine the tenancy, mobile home, or any other property of the tenant abandoned and subject to sale.

          (2) Removal of the mobile home by the tenant, together with default in rent, shall be sufficient to indicate a tenant's intention not to continue tenancy, unless the landlord has actual knowledge of the tenant's contrary intention.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     A landlord may take possession of an abandoned mobile-manufactured home located in a mobile home park as defined by section 1 of this act as as secured party under RCW 62A.9-503.  The landlord may dispose of such a home and other property under RCW 62A.9-504 if no other security interest or other lien appears of record in the office of the secretary of state or county auditor for the county in which the mobile-manufactured home is located.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The purchaser of a mobile-manufactured home or other property of an abandoning tenant sold under section 2 of this act shall have the same rights as purchasers under RCW 62A.9-504.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     A tenant whose mobile-manufactured home is taken under section 2 of this act has all the rights of a debtor under RCW 62A.9-501 through 62A.9-507.  A landlord shall have all the duties and responsibilities of a secured party.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     Sections 1 through 4 of this act are added to chapter 59.20 RCW.