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New tenants union wins concession after Oakwood raises lot rents at Missoula mobile-home parks
Summary
Residents of Harvey's and Traverse mobile-home parks formed a tenants union and pushed Oakwood Ventures to remove a lease clause that gave the company first refusal on homes for sale; tenants say recent lot-rent increases (a resident described a $195 rise) threaten seniors and people on fixed incomes.
Residents of two Missoula mobile-home parks launched a tenants union and secured a lease concession from corporate owner Oakwood Ventures after residents reported large lot-rent increases, the Wake Up Missoula program reported.
A resident identified as Jackie described large increases after Oakwood bought the park: “The rent went up over a 70%. My rent didn't go up $10 or even 25. It went up $195,” she said on the broadcast, adding that she lives on a fixed monthly income and could become homeless if rents rise again.
The tenant union presented three priority demands to Oakwood: 1) roll back recent dramatic lot-rent increases, 2) cap annual rent increases at no more than 3% tied to cost-of-living adjustments, and 3) remove an owner right-of-first-refusal clause that gave Oakwood first dibs to buy residents' homes if they tried to sell. The host reported that, after an initial conversation, Oakwood agreed to strike the right-of-first-refusal clause from the lease and committed to continue meetings and send corporate representatives to Missoula for an in-person meeting in April.
Why it matters: mobile-home parks provide housing to many Missoula residents who rely on fixed incomes, and tenants told the program that steep lot-rent increases can risk displacement for older residents and low-income households. The union framed its organizing as an effort to protect long-term stability for park residents.
What’s next: the tenant union said management promised ongoing negotiations and an April visit from corporate owners. The broadcast did not record an on-air statement from Oakwood Ventures; the agreement to strike the clause was reported by the tenants and the union representative as a concession obtained in initial talks.
