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Residents urge city to scrutinize steep rent increase proposed at Ranch Mobile Home Park
Summary
Residents of Ranch Mobile Home Park told the Thousand Oaks City Council they face displacement after the park owner filed an application proposing an approximately $586-per-month space-rent increase; staff said the application will be scheduled for a planning commission hearing and residents have the right to be heard.
Residents of the Ranch Mobile Home Park told the Thousand Oaks City Council they could be driven from their homes if the park owner’s proposed space-rent increase goes forward unchanged.
Sandy Gil, who identified herself as a resident of the Ranch Mobile Home Park, told council members the owner’s notice proposes a roughly $586 increase on top of the usual yearly raise and said the park’s population is about “80% senior citizens” who largely live on Social Security. “It’s going to either put us all out on the street,” she said.
Other residents echoed the concern. Paul Sinori, a Zoom speaker, said the proposed increase was “troubling” for longtime residents and first-time home buyers. Kathy Hodgej, another resident, presented projections about multi-year rent impacts and said raising space rent could depress home values in the park and create financial uncertainty for older households.
City staff described the process the city will follow. Tracy (city staff) said the city received an application from the owner and is processing it; the matter will be scheduled for a hearing before the planning commission, and that hearing’s date may be moved. “Every single resident has a right to be heard at this hearing,” Tracy said.
City manager said staff would also coordinate outreach about unrelated public-safety comments (see separate item on electric-vehicle safety). The city did not announce a decision on the rent application tonight.
What happens next: the planning commission will hold a hearing on the park owner’s application; residents will receive notice of the hearing date and may present evidence and testimony there. If the commission issues a decision that residents oppose, speakers indicated they intend to return to the council to press for further action.
Clarifying details: the transcript records a cited proposed immediate increase of “about $586” in space rent as presented by residents; multiple speakers said many park residents are seniors on fixed incomes. Staff confirmed the application is under review and that unit-by-unit rehabilitation funding (from separate CDBG awards) had not been pre-assigned to specific mobile-home units.
Ending: Council did not act on the rent application tonight; staff said the next procedural step is the planning commission hearing, and residents will be notified of the date.
