HARRISBURG – A proposal from Bucks County Sen. Steve Santarsiero would protect residents of manufactured home communities. PA currently lacks a neutral authority dedicated to helping manufactured home residents and community owners. The proposal would establish an independent and impartial Office of Manufactured Housing Ombudsman empowered to educate homeowners and lessees about their rights, responsibilities, and important considerations when purchasing a manufactured home or leasing a lot, as well as help resolve disputes involving lot rent, community rules, leases, residency approvals, and evictions. They would also review the validity of proposed rent increases, rule changes, and evictions, with the authority to stay those actions while a matter is under review and address environmental, health, and safety concerns, including problems involving drinking water and sewage systems. The legislation would also create a Manufactured Housing Hearing Board to review contested matters and hear appeals. Together, the ombudsman and hearing board would provide residents and community owners with an accessible process for resolving disputes while ensuring that decisions are fair, transparent, and subject to independent review.
SEN. STEVE SANTARSIERO