Washington House Democrats

Protection for mobile-home owners on way to governor

Dawn Morrell bill gives teeth to Landlord-tenant act

April 16, 2007

OLYMPIA—Legislation that will enable the state attorney general to resolve disputes between tenants and landlords of mobile home parks passed the Legislature today and is on its way to the governor.

“This law will mean that tenants and landlords can finally get relief for violations of their rights without waiting years for court decisions or spending thousands of dollars on lawyers,” said state Rep. Dawn Morrell, the Puyallup Democrat who sponsored the bill.

The Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act has been on the books since 1977. Although the state Office of Mobile Home Affairs has had the authority to investigate complaints of violations, it lacks any power to issue fines or otherwise enforce the act.

“Even when a landlord is clearly violating the law, the office can cajole, they can request, and they can ask pretty please of folks to quit violating the landlord-tenant act, but they can’t do anything beyond that,” said Nick Federici, a spokesperson for Washington Low-Income Housing Alliance

Under terms of the legislation passed today:

·                    The attorney general would be able to investigate complaints of violations of the Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act and attempt to negotiate an agreement with the involved parties.

·                    If a voluntary agreement is not reached, the attorney general could determine whether a violation has occurred and, if necessary, issue a citation and a statement of required corrective action to the violator.

·                    If there is no response to the citation within 15 days, the attorney general could issue fines as high as $250 a day until the violation is corrected.

·                    Disputants could contest citations and fines before an administrative law judge.

The new program would be financed by a $10 registration assessment on mobile homes, at least $5 of which must be paid by the landlord.

There are 1,829 known mobile home parks with roughly 62,000 homes in Washington, according to the bill report on the legislation, House Bill 1461.

Morrell’s legislation was strongly supported in public hearings by the Senior Lobby, AARP, Manufactured Home Owners Association and the Mobile Home Owners of America.

The House voted 94-1 for Morrell’s legislation.

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