SENATE BILL REPORT

ESB 5863

BYSenators Warnke, Garrett and Rasmussen

Prohibiting the refusal or expulsion of mobile homes from a mobile home park because of the age of the mobile home.

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 18, 1987; February 20, 1987

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Warnke, Chairman; Smitherman, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Tanner, Vognild, Williams.

Senate Staff:Patrick Woods (786-7430)

                  April 15, 2987

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 13, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Mobile Home Landlord Tenant Act prohibits any landlord from:  denying tenants the right to sell their mobile homes within a park or require its removal due to sale; restrict a tenant's freedom of choice in purchasing goods or services other than exterior structural improvements; prohibit meetings by tenants of a mobile home park to discuss living conditions; take adverse actions against a tenant for filing a complaint with a government agency, requesting a landlord to comply with the provisions of the Act, filing suit against the landlord, or participate in a homeowner's association; charge to any tenant a utility fee in excess of the actual utility costs; remove or exclude a tenant from the premises without complying with the provisions of the Act.

The restrictive provisions placed on landlords does not include a limitation on the ability to remove or restrict entry to the mobile park due to the age of the mobile home unit.

SUMMARY:

The Mobile Home Landlord Tenant Act is amended to prohibit a landlord from preventing the entry or requiring the removal of a mobile home for the sole reason that the mobile home unit has reached a certain age.

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Stephen Kolcsey, Washington Mobile Home Park Owners Association; John Woodring, Washington Mobile Home Park Owners Association; John Jensen, Mobile Home Owners of America

HOUSE AMENDMENT:

The amendment is primarily technical in nature and ensures that the additional existing rights of landlords and tenants under the Mobile Home Landlord Tenant Act are not inadvertently impacted.