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Committee releases Manufactured Home Park Protection Act to expand resident purchase rights
Summary
The committee released A4973 to give resident homeowners in manufactured/mobile home parks a right of first refusal and a defined negotiation process, including notification requirements, a 51% consent threshold, a 120-day purchase window, and options to assign rights to municipalities or housing authorities.
The Assembly Housing Committee voted to release Assembly Bill 4973, the Manufactured Home Park Protection Act, which would grant resident homeowners in mobile or manufactured home parks and private residential leasehold communities (PRLCs) enhanced opportunities to preserve their communities by purchasing the land if an owner plans to sell or change the property's use.
Committee staff read the bill synopsis into the record: A4973 would require landowners to provide specified notices, allow resident-homeowner groups that secure assent from 51% of residents to exercise a right of first refusal within 120 days of notice if they meet price and contract terms, permit refundable earnest-money requirements (up to $50,000), enable resident groups to designate up to seven representatives who may use legal or technical counsel during negotiations, and permit residents to assign purchase rights to municipalities, housing authorities or qualified nonprofits to preserve community use. Violations could be treated as an unlawful practice under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, according to the synopsis.
Sponsor Assemblyman Bailey, who presented the bill, said the measure is aimed at protecting roughly 60,000 New Jerseyans living across more than 250 manufactured-home communities and described constituent accounts of rising lot rents, deferred maintenance and absentee owners. Supporting witnesses, including the Manufactured Homeowners Association of New Jersey and national resident-ownership groups, urged passage to standardize protections and make resident purchase efforts more feasible.
The committee moved and voted to release A4973; the roll call recorded yes votes from members present and the bill was released for further legislative consideration.
