Promoting Resident Ownership of Manufactured Home Communities Act

Key Points

• This bill creates a competitive grant program through HUD, using the Community Development Block Grant framework, to reward states that pass laws giving manufactured home residents the chance to buy the communities they live in.
• To qualify for grants, states must adopt model laws or show data proving residents already get a real opportunity to buy their communities. Once approved, eligibility lasts for three years.
• Under the model law, park owners must give residents and the state housing finance agency at least 60 days written notice before finalizing any sale. If more than half of homeowners support a purchase offer, the owner must negotiate in good faith and cannot reject an offer just because it includes a financing contingency.
• At least 25 percent of grant funds must go toward land acquisition or infrastructure for a manufactured housing community owned by an eligible entity like a resident cooperative, nonprofit, or local government. The rest can fund other community development activities.
• Residents are guaranteed the right to form associations, meet in common areas, and circulate petitions or flyers. Park owners are prohibited from retaliating against anyone exercising these organizing rights.