Senate committee hears bill to expand tenant protections, receivership option for manufactured-home communities

Senate Bill 40, a measure to strengthen protections for tenants in manufactured-home communities, was presented to the Delaware Senate Housing and Land Use Committee on March 17, 2025, with sponsor Senator Brian Walsh outlining changes to enforcement and notice standards and members of resident, owner and legal-aid groups testifying in support.

The bill would make certain landlord violations unlawful practices under the Consumer Fraud Act when specified conditions are met and would allow tenants, groups of tenants or the Delaware Attorney General to file for receivership if landlords fail to address severe issues within five days of actual notice. Senator Brian Walsh said the bill also "allows the attorney protection about tenants' receivership petitions within 10 days of filing," and identified Senate Amendment 1, which removes the word "constructive" and retains "actual notice," as part of negotiated changes with stakeholders.

The measure was described in the hearing as developed…