SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6343

BYSenators Murray, Warnke, Lee, Bender, Vognild and von Reichbauer

Requiring five year mobile home lot leases to be available.

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 17, 1990

Senate Staff:David Cheal (786-7576)

AS OF JANUARY 16, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Currently mobile home park owners must offer each tenant at the time they move into the park and annually thereafter a one-year lease.  Tenants have the option of waiving their right to a one-year lease, but the waiver must be obtained in writing at the beginning of the tenancy, or a one-year lease is imposed by law.

Mobile home parks were first established when mobile homes were much smaller and truly mobile.  They were established on marginal or transitional land, and not considered to be permanent housing.

Now mobile homes are placed on a permanent foundation by the initial purchaser and moved much less frequently than 13 years ago when the Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act was first enacted.  Mobile homes are now generally regarded as permanent housing.

Moving a mobile home costs several thousand dollars.  In western Washington, the vacancy rate is extremely low and a suitable space for relocation is difficult to find.  The relative instability created by only being entitled to a one-year lease diminishes the utility of this type of housing and creates a hardship and uncertainty for many mobile home occupants.

SUMMARY:

The minimum term that may be offered to tenants in mobile home parks is changed from one year to five years.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested