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Mobile home residents urge Santa Maria council to pursue rent stabilization and senior‑park protections
Summary
A representative for the North Santa Barbara County Manufactured Homeowners Team urged the council during public comment to replace the 2020 model lease and enforcement agreement with a mandatory rent‑stabilization ordinance and protections against senior park conversions; staff said the matter is under research.
Gary Hall, representing the North Santa Barbara County Manufactured Homeowners Team, urged the Santa Maria City Council on Oct. 21 to pursue a mandatory mobile home rent‑stabilization program and protections for senior mobile home parks.
Hall said the 2020 model lease and enforcement agreement has not effectively protected homeowner equity or maintained affordable mobile home housing. He cited a recent rent increase tied to the August CPI of 3.5 percent and said many seniors on fixed Social Security incomes (he referenced an expected 2026 Social Security cost‑of‑living increase of about 2.7 percent) will struggle to absorb such rent increases. Hall requested the council add mobile home rent stabilization and senior‑park conversion prevention to a near‑term meeting agenda and said community development staff told him the matter is being researched.
City staff later confirmed the Community Development Department is researching the issue; Hall said he was hopeful a new or revised ordinance similar to Santa Barbara County's approach would be introduced. Council took no formal action during the public comment period; Hall's remarks were recorded as part of public comment and will inform future staff research and council consideration if the item is scheduled for an agenda.
