Residents, brokers press committee for clearer rules on manufactured-home sales

Representative Rosemarie Rung introduced HB 1218, a bill intended to bring transparency and predictability to the sale of manufactured homes in park communities. Rung said the measure would require park owners to give specific criteria for approving prospective buyers, itemized lists of required repairs with objective standards, and timely responses to inquiries.

Multiple witnesses described painful personal experiences under current practice. Greg Weiner told the committee that after his mother died he faced indefinite delays and opaque repair demands while trying to sell her home; a cash purchaser was later denied without explanation. Broker Cathy Snyder said she had secured multiple buyers and repeatedly received no reasons when a park owner declined a sale, costing sellers tens of thousands of dollars.

Abby Bronson of the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund urged caution about the bill’s two-day response requirement for resident-owned communities, saying volunteer boards often need more time and that the proposed rent reductions could be hard for small cooperatives to absorb. Municipal and association witnesses suggested targeted transparency improvements while noting differences between single-owner parks and resident-owned cooperatives.

The sponsor and supporters said the bill preserves park-owner veto power but seeks to limit abusive delays and require objective, documented criteria that buyers and agents can follow. The committee closed public hearing on this item with further questions about balancing protections for sellers and the operational realities of resident-owned communities.