During the hearing on HB63,the park owners claimed that we were taking away their property rights.  The only thing the bill contained was that if a majority of the homeowners had an issue that they wanted to discuss with the park owner,a committee from the homeowners association would meet with the park owner to resolve the issue.  The bill also worked two ways –of the park owners wanted to meet with the homeowners,the park owner could call a meeting with a committee from the homeowners association.

The only thing we found was that the park owners resolved to be jerks and not talk to the homeowners about anything.  There is nothing in the whole bundle of property rights that allows any property owner to be a jerk.  There are typically consequences when an individual acts like a jerk and they usually aren’t good ones –but it isn’t a property right.  What is interesting is that the Utah Legislature actually bought their story once again.

When are they going to realize that we are property owners who own the bulk of the investment within a manufactured home community.  And when the Federal Housing Finance Agency finally does what is was mandated to do under the Federal Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 and open up the financial markets to manufactured homeowners –our portion of the investment in a manufactured home community will grow even larger.  The park owners portion will dwarf our investment by much more than it already does.

The funny thing is that the park owners don’t want you to know this.  They don’t want you to know this because if you knew –you would demand the justice you deserve.  When you finally realize you deserve justice,give us a call.  We’d be happy to help you get it!

By

Ken Parker – President UMHAG

The more that I deal with issues between the Manufactured Home Owner and the Mobile Home Park Owners,the more that I realize that the imbalance of power centers around the issue of private property.  A building that is attached to the land is considered real-estate,and constitutes private property.  A building that sets upon stilts,or otherwise not attached to the land is considered personal property with no rights to the land upon which is stands.  Therefore,it seems that all arguments between two such owners stems around real-estate law with ownership of private property winning every argument.

As residents and owners of Manufactured Homes (personal property with no rights) and choosing to place our property upon someone else’s land (real property with rights) we have placed ourselves and property in a dictatorial situation.  So long as the classification of Manufactured Homes remains as personal property the upper hand will remain with the owners of real property.

Throughout history the land owner has always been king.  History has proven that the general population is only allowed to survive under a benevolent monarchy or dictatorial type of government.  The serfs are allowed to survive and are taxed to carry the financial burdens on the extravagant life styles of the ruling class.  In this case the owners of the Manufactured Home communities where we live.

Real-estate law allows the owner of private property to use the land for any purpose allowable under the rules imposed by local,state,and federal law.  The owner of that land is also taxed for the privately owned land.  It is obvious as we read the newspapers and watch TV that when any taxing agency seems to be a little short for money the solution is simply to raise taxes.  The question to be asked is who really pays these taxes.

The answer is simple. We do!  It seems to be a simple pattern for those in power,spend and tax,spend and tax.  As for the land owners of manufactured home communities,they just keep raising the rent to their “Captured Renters” because they have them in a “dictatorial situation”,and as the owners of private property they still hold the upper hand.  They don’t have a tax and spend dilemma – they tax and spend on their next frivolity – which is their right to a point.  When the infrastructure is crumbling away,rents keep rising,and nothing is done – there is something wrong with this picture.

Is there a solution to this ownership dilemma?  Not until the law makers are willing to change some of the law that have created the injustices between the land owners and homeowners in the manufactured home communities.  This is not just a State of Utah issue,but exists throughout the country. That is why we have to band together as owners of Manufactured Homes and not give up until we either own the property that our homes are sitting on,or have changes in the laws governing both parties that are fair and equitable to both sides of the argument.  We do not live in an apartment setting or condominium community.  The laws governing these settings simply DO NOT apply to manufactured home communities.

Therefore,as homeowners in this dictatorial situation we must band together and fight for the right to dialog with the park owners which was never covered in HB388 (in spite of the park owners contention that it was),press for the right to purchase to become a resident owned community,and change the rules governing land used for the sole purpose of collecting rent from owners of Manufactured Homes.