Vella, Rashid Pass Legislation Empowering Manufactured Park Residents

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Dave Vella, D-Loves Park, and state Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, D-Bridgeview, passed legislation that would empower mobile home residents by providing them the right of first refusal to purchase the land their homes sit on when a sale is considered.

 

“This bill will help to end surprise sales impacting our manufactured home communities. They deserve to have a say over the possibility of a sale that could lead to higher rents and possible eviction,” said Vella. “The right of first refusal is one tool to help our residents preserve an important source of affordable housing in our state.”

 

“Thousands of Illinois families choose to live in manufactured home communities because they are an important source of affordable housing. Yet these communities are constantly under threat of takeover from out-of-state corporations seeking to turn a profit by exploiting the housing affordability crisis,” said Rashid.  “This bill gives homeowners one important protection to avoid corporate takeovers that could lead to even higher rents or eviction.”

 

Across the country, large real estate companies are targeting and purchasing lots from traditional family-owned businesses and raising rents. Despite owning their homes and paying mortgages and utilities, manufactured home residents also pay rent for the land their homes sit on. These rising lot rents can lead to displacement, homelessness, or difficult financial decisions for many families.

 

Similar to legislation filed earlier this year by Rashid, Senate Bill 2935, sponsored by Vella, gives mobile home associations the right to be informed and make a bid for the property their homes are on if the mobile park owner wishes to sell the land. Vella and Rashid worked to pass the bill out of both the House and Senate and is on its way to Governor Pritzker’s desk to be signed into law.