HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2327

                       As Passed House

                      February 12, 1992

Title:  An act relating to mobile home rental parks.

Brief Description:  Maintaining mobile home parks.

Sponsor(s):  By House Committee on Housing (originally sponsored by Representatives Winsley, Nelson, Mitchell, Ogden, Franklin, Brough, Paris and Miller).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Housing, January 31, 1992, DPS;

Passed House, February 12, 1992, 94-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HOUSING

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Nelson, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Mitchell, Ranking Minority Member; Winsley, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Ballard; Leonard; Ogden; and Wineberry.

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786-7092).

Background:  Some mobile home park owners have transferred the responsibility for the maintenance and care of permanent structures in the mobile home park to the park tenants.  Some park tenants have expressed concern that they are unable to obtain insurance on these structures because they don't own them, they may be injured while trying to repair the structures, and they don't have the resources to maintain the structures.

Summary of Bill:  A mobile home park owner is prohibited from transferring the responsibility for the maintenance or care of permanent structures in the park to the park tenants.  A park owner may transfer such responsibility to a tenant or tenant association when requested by the tenant or tenant association.

"Permanent structures" include the clubhouse, carports, storage sheds, or any other permanent structures that were provided as amenities to the park tenants.  Structures built or affixed by the park tenants are not considered permanent structures.

Any provision in a rental agreement or other document transferring responsibility for the maintenance or care of permanent structures in the park to the park tenants is void.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date:  The bill declares an emergency and takes effect immediately.  The bill applies to all rental agreements or other documents entered into after September 1, 1991.

Testimony For:  These structures are not the property of the tenants.  They can't take the structures with them when they leave the park.  Senior citizens could be injured by trying to maintain or fix these structures.  Rents are being raised already; the cost for maintaining these structures should come out of these increases.  Tenants can't get insurance on these structures.  This is not a problem with only one park.

Testimony Against:  This is a problem primarily with one park.  This can be worked out without legislation.  Costs of repairs and maintenance will just be passed along to the park tenants.  If structures are in good repair at the time the responsibility to maintain them is transferred, this should not create any problems.

Witnesses:  Representative Winsley (supports); Doris McAtee, park tenant (supports); Bob Wilson, park tenant (supports); Grace Seabrook, park tenant (supports); John Woodring, Mobile Home Park Owners Association (opposes); Arnold Livingston, Senior Lobby (supports); Barbara Soncrev, Mobile Home Owners Association (supports); and Mike Ryherd, Housing Authorities (supports with amendments).