New laws give more protections for homeowners at manufactured home parks
Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office
Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation to support homeowners at manufactured home parks, a critical source of affordable housing for residents in New York State, particularly Upstate and in rural areas.
“This legislative package is our state’s latest tool to support New Yorkers in manufactured home parks – a key source of affordable housing in our state,” Governor Hochul said. “By expanding when homeowners in manufactured home parks have a right of first refusal, authorizing mortgages and mortgage pool insurance for modular and manufactured homes, and better aligning our legislative language with federal programs, we are helping to strengthen New York communities and continuing to provide New Yorkers with safe, stable, affordable homes. I thank the bill sponsors for their partnership in supporting this critical path to affordable homeownership for countless New York families.”
• Legislation S. 5881-A/A. 5549-A expands the right of first refusal that homeowners in manufactured home parks currently have to include whenever owners of manufactured home parks make offers to sell or respond to offers to buy the park. Under prior state law, homeowners in manufactured home parks were only able to exercise this right when the purchaser of manufactured home parks certified their intent to use the land for a different purpose.
The legislation also requires that homeowners notify owners of manufactured home parks within 60 days if they plan to make an offer to purchase the park and requires that homeowners make the offer within 140 days. This legislation will help homeowners in manufactured home parks safeguard their affordable communities, without unduly hindering unopposed investments in manufactured home parks.
State Senator James Skoufis said, “This bill package will empower residents to have a fair shot at protecting their communities from owners who don’t share their vision for the mobile home park as well as aligning civil penalties with federal regulations. I thank Governor Hochul for signing this legislation to establish an equitable balance between the interests of manufactured home park owners and residents who seek affordable, secure housing.”
• Legislation S. 7541/A. 7403 authorizes the State of New York Mortgage Agency to purchase mortgages and offer mortgage pool insurance for modular and manufactured housing, which primarily are financed as personal property and thus were often ineligible for SONYMA financing and insurance prior to this legislation. This legislation enables SONYMA to provide critical support to homebuyers who rely upon modular and manufactured housing as affordable pathways to homeownership.
Assemblymember Karen McMahon said, “This new law, which grants SONYMA the authority to purchase mortgages for modular and/or manufactured homes as personal property, will enable low- and moderate-income New Yorkers to finance affordable housing. The Assembly is committed to making housing fair and accessible to all, in New York’s urban, suburban and rural communities.”
• Legislation S. 7381/A. 7422 includes several technical changes to better align New York State law relating to civil penalties associated with manufactured housing with federal law. It replaces the word “fine” with “civil penalty,” replaces the word “licenses” with “certifications,” and it replaces the word “article” with “title.” It also replaces the language surrounding civil penalties with “the maximum civil penalty” established by the Code of Federal Regulations. In doing so, this legislation helps to correct a misalignment between state and federal language to help ensure that manufactured homes are produced, installed and serviced safely.
Assemblymember Didi Barrett said, “Manufactured homes are often the only affordable housing and homeownership opportunities in districts like mine and throughout much of New York State. I thank Governor Hochul for signing this critical piece of legislation aligning state and federal policies to better deter exploitative investors and firms, keeping occupants safe.”
