SENATE BILL REPORT

EHB 1552

BYRepresentatives Todd, Nutley, Padden, Patrick, Holland, Anderson, D. Sommers, Leonard, Walk, Pruitt, Crane, Nelson and Dorn

Establishing the office of mobile home affairs and tenant lot fees.

House Committe on Housing

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 30, 1989; March 31, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Lee, Chairman; Anderson, Vice Chairman; McMullen, Murray, Saling, Smitherman, Warnke, Williams.

Senate Staff:David Cheal (786-7576)

                  March 31, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & LABOR, MARCH 31, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Mobile (manufactured) homes are built in factories under standards regulated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  The mobile home is either placed on land that is owned by the mobile homeowner or is placed on land that is rented to the mobile homeowner.

Disputes sometimes occur between mobile home park owners (landlords) and mobile homeowners (tenants) when the mobile home is placed on land rented by the homeowner.  This area is covered by the Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act.  How effective this law is at resolving disputes is argued by both sides.  No state agency is responsible for overseeing this area.

Several state agencies regulate some aspect of mobile homes.  The Department of Licensing issues titles to mobile homes and regulates manufacturers and dealers of mobile homes.  The State Board of Health makes regulations on the health and sanitation standards for mobile home parks.  The Department of Transportation issues permits for moving mobile homes on state highways.  The Department of Licensing and the Utilities and Transportation Commission regulate mobile home transporters.  The Department of Labor and Industries is HUD's agent for inspecting the factories in Washington that build mobile homes.  The Department of Labor and Industries also provides the standards for installing mobile homes on sites or lots.

In 1988, the Legislature created an Office of Mobile Home Affairs in the Department of Community Development.  This office serves as the coordinating office for state government in matters related to mobile homes. The office also provides an ombudsman service to park owners and tenants with respect to problems and disputes between these two groups, and provides technical assistance to tenant organizations who wish to purchase the mobile home park where they reside.

The office is funded through a $1 annual fee per lot (space) to be paid by park owners, and each tenant residing in the park on January 1 must pay a $1 fee (annual).  The park owner is to collect the tenants' fees and submit both the park owner's and the tenants' fees to the State Treasurer.

SUMMARY:

The fee charged to park owners per year per lot does not apply to unoccupied lots.

The tenant is to pay the fee to the landlord by January 15.  The landlord has no other duty to collect the fee from the tenant other than to request payment in writing.

The landlord cannot charge an administrative fee for collecting the $1 fee from the tenant.  The landlord must reimburse any administrative fees collected from tenants.  If the landlord violates the provisions regarding collecting or reimbursing the administrative fees, the landlord is liable for a $50 penalty per violation.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested February 11, 1989

Senate Committee - Testified: No one