Concerns are being raised about legislation aimed at granting more rights to residents of manufactured housing developments.
The proposal from state Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Waunakee) would give residents of a park at least three months to make a counter-offer, if the owner is considering selling or closing the property. It also requires owners to give residents 120 days to relocate if the park is closing.
Erpenbach says the bill is needed because current law allows owners to evict tenants with very little notice. It also doesn’t require owners to notify tenants if sale of the property is being considered.
Scott Rose of Riverside Communities in Bristol says most owners would have no problem with giving tenants a longer window of time to move. However, there are concerns that delaying the actual sale by six months could make it impossible to close a deal. He says a buyer with an offer on the table could see their financing situation change drastically over such a long period of time, and they may not be there if tenants fail to come up with a reasonable offer of their own.
The bill is being considered by a Senate committee.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports.
