MOBILE HOMES

A mobile home, whether you buy it and rent space in a park, or whether you rent both the home and the park space, may be the best deal for you.

There are some important things to consider when renting a mobile home or when renting park space. As a mobile home tenant, you may have two landlords: the owner of the mobile home and the owner of the park. They may have conflicting demands on you. If you own your mobile home, you will want to have a written lease for the time period you wish to remain in the park. Without a written lease, the park owner can order you out in 60 days. Moving a trailer is an expensive procedure.

When leasing the land or lot upon which a mobile home is located, for a tenancy of less than one year, the landlord may terminate the tenancy no sooner than 60 days by giving written notice to the tenant. (RSMo. §441.060)

EXAMINING A MOBILE HOME

When you shop for a mobile home, here are some of the things you should consider:

- Does the home have adequate insulation? Heating and air conditioning costs are high. The home should have storm windows and skirting. Ask other tenants about utility costs in the summer and winter.

- Do all rooms have heat/air conditioning registers?
- Even if the home is skirted, the water pipes can freeze. The pipes should have a heating device to keep them from freezing.

MOBILE HOME PARKS

Compare the service and facilities provided by the parks:

- Talk to park tenants to determine how management handles problems, maintenance, rent, and other cost increases.

- Compare the quality of park lighting, roads, parking, walkways, club or party house swimming pools, playgrounds and storage areas.

YOUR LEASE

Since your lease is your list of responsibilities and rights, study the lease carefully before signing (see section on leases):

- Are you required to observe park rules? If so, have a copy of the rules attached to the lease. You can have problems if you agree to abide by all the rules the management may invent.

- Are all utility connections provided? Who pays for them? Whose responsibility is it to provide poles and hookups? Enter a provision that if utilities are not provided by a certain date, you will be excused from the lease with a full return of your deposit.

- Who is responsible for skirting and anchoring the home? Who pays for it? Set a deadline for this in the lease.

- Is there adequate closet and storage space?

- Must you purchase services and repairs from specified firms? Beware of such clauses.

- Make sure the lease states you are renting the home where it is presently located, and the home won’t be moved during your tenancy. If the home is moved, you may have to move with it, if there is no lease provision to the contrary.

- Make sure the lease has a destruction clause. If the home is destroyed, you would then get a refund of prepaid rent.

- Landlords may terminate a lease for less than one year with the owner of a mobile home who is leasing the land from them no sooner than 60 days from the date the next rent payment is due.

SAFETY

The National Commission of Fire Prevention and Control reports, “Mobile homes are the fastest burning of all homes.” Be alert for fire hazards: Watch for strange smells and warm outlets; Dont run the furnace or air conditioner constantly; Check furnace filter frequently; Oil furnace bearings as recommended; Avoid using extension cords or overloading electrical circuits. Smoke detectors are a must!