mobilehome/manufactured home mh life mobilehome owners ... · 9/9/2017 · the handbook provides...

Inside this issueOur

Philosophy3 Our History & Accomplishments4 Making Better

Choices13

September 2017Volume 5 Number 9

Life MH

Mobilehome/Manufactured Home

Mobilehome Owners The Voice of

Network

Sixth Year Anniversary IssueNow $5 Membership

MH Life Magazine, The Voice of

Mobilehome Owners Network (www.mhonet.org)Serving California’s Mobile & Manufactured Housing Communities

Published By Mobilehome Magazine P.O. Box 3774, Chatsworth, CA 91313

Frank A. Wodley, Editor/Publisher(818) 886-6479 / (800) 929-6061

Website: www.mobilehomemagazine.org / E-mail: fawodley@ yahoo.com The MobilehomeMagazine is not responsible for content contained in advertising

Who Are We?Our HistOry

We are mobilehome owners just like you. Our goals are to provide you information (Knowledge is Power), and empower you to protect your investment and way of life. We first organized as the Coalition of Mobilehome Owners - Los Angeles County in 2004. We served the community through 2016 as COMO-CAL.

In the beginning of 2017, we became Mobile Home Owners Network (www.mhonet.org, pronounced Monet, like the painter Claude Monet.

We believe in Strength in Numbers and Knowledge is Power. We believe in teamwork, working together and UNITY.

In September 2011, we began publishing Mobilehome Magazine (Now MH Life Magazine). It is our voice. During that time we have printed and distributed over 700,000 magazines to the Community of mobilehome owners in California. Today we publish four magazines (Sacramento, California, Orange County, Inland Empire) and sometimes San Diego. We reach more mobilehome owners, at essentially no cost, than any other advocate in the country.

MObileHOMe Magazine & MHOnetMobile Home Owners Network (MHONET) is a member-

ship organization. Membership is for a calendar year, i.e. January 1 thru December 31st. Currently membership is just $5 through December 31, 2017 ($7 with the Handbook). Membership for 2018 is $20. Members receive many benefits (refer to page 7). To join, simply fill out the application on page 9. All info is kept confidential. Mobilehome Magazine

publishes MH Life Magazine and administers the Mobilehome Owners Network (The Network). When joining, please make checks payable to Mobilehome Magazine and send to Mobile-home Magazine, P.O. Box 3774, Chatsworth, CA 91313.

HOw DO we use yOur MeMbersHip Dues?First, your dues go to help print and distribute MH Life

Magazine. It’s expensive to print and deliver between 9,000 and 15,000 magazines a month. Although advertising helps pay for expenses, we need your financial help. help to keep the magazine going. And we want you to have some skin in the game. We want to know you value the magazine, will read it and use its suggestions to help yourself. Your support is critical.

Second, one of our goals is to hire an attorney to write letters to park managers and to consult with. You know attorneys are not inexpensive, so the balance of funds received will be used for legal purposes, i.e. to help challenge illegal acts by park managers. Remember, no other organization does this. We are the only one. So please support our efforts.

We believe in transparency; therefore our finances (revenue and expenses) are available to our members.

Our websites

We operate three websites. You can find all magazines since September 2011 displayed. All may be read and downloaded.

Mobile Home Owners Network: www.mhonet.org

Mobilehome Magazine: www.mobilehomemagazine.org

Coalition of Mobilehome Owners - California: COMO-CAL: www.comocal.org (shut down 12/31/2016)

Volume 5 Number 8. August 20172Mobile/Manufactured Home Life Magazine

Contact Us at: [email protected], 818-886-6479

Our Philosophy & GoalsOur pHilOsOpHy

We feel it is important that residents, managers and park owners understand, right from the start, our philosophy. There are lots of miscon-ceptions and now is a good time to make OUR position clear.

• We believe all residents living on someone else’s land are vulnerable and need assistance.

• We believe Knowledge is Power. That’s why we’ve spent so much of our time and resources to provide you MH Life Magazine.

• We believe you should be served by a strong, state-wide organization that is efficient and effective.

• We believe all advocates should be working together.

• We believe there is Strength in Numbers. We believe in UNITY.

• We believe both residents and managers need accurate information, as both have rights and responsibili-ties. Mobilehome Magazine is not anti-manager or anti-park owner.

• We believe all laws are essentially worthless without a viable form of enforcement.

Our gOals

• To provide California mobilehome owners the best possible service at the lowest possible cost. We’d say we have accomplished this goal. We provide more benefits for less money than any other advocate.

• Knowledge is Power. We have successfully provided important information to the community over the last 13 years with The Voice and MH Life Magazine.

• UNITY is one important goal we have not reached. Residents will only be UNIFIED when they support our Regional Group Plan. Eventually local leaders will take over from us and run their own individual region. At that time we will only play a supportive role.

• One of our goals is to promote good relations between park owners, managers and residents. We understand rental parks are a business, but we also believe that residents have a right to a stress-free life, free from the many negative situations that are a reality in so many mobilehome parks today. We hope our work with park owners, managers and residents results in a better life for all.

• Our Message to Park Owners & Managers: We welcome your input in MH Life Magazine. In fact we offer all managers a FREE subscription to MH Life Magazine. You deserve important, accurate information just like the residents you serve.

• To provide you a viable means to enforce the Mobilehome Residency Law (MRL), rather than to have to

hire an attorney and litigate.

• To provide you ways to save your hard earned money and to provide ways your community can make money to run their advocacy.

• To provide resources to your park group and local groups (a magazine, a legal fund, an attorney and a lobbyist as well as financing for all groups.

• To provide you money saving suggestions you can use to improve your financial situation and diminish some of your stress.

• In the future, to provide you more suggestions to save money and improve your lifestyle.

Ultimately, our goal is to have managers, owners AND residents all follow the law. To that end, MH Life Magazine is providing the tools so everyone knows their individual rights and responsibilities. No one is enforcing the law for you, and if there is to be enforcement, it is on your shoulders.

Enforcement requires that you at least have a basic knowledge of the law.

MH life Magazine & OtHer aDvOcates

We feel it is important for all advocates to work together for the greater good of all mobile/manufactured home owners in California. And our surveys demonstrate this opinion is shared by the great majority of mobilehome owners.

So what does “working together” mean? It simply means that MH Life Magazine will support and assist other groups. Today we are reaching 12,000 homes in California. That’s roughly 35,000 residents who live in mobilehome parks.

tHe future

What more can we do. We can “lead you to the water, but we can’ make you drink.” We’re offering so much, but most of all our determination for all mobilehome owners to have a better life. There is much to do. Only together can we accomplish greatness. Without your support, we are lost.

Volume 5 Number 9. September 20173Mobile/Manufactured Home Life Magazine


Our History & A Few of Our AccomplishmentscOMO-lac fOrMeD (2004)

Formed late in 2004 as a county wide group, COMO-LAC (Coalition of Mobilehome Owners - Los Angeles County), morphed into a state-wide group a year later as COMO-CAL, a nonprofit, tax exempt 501(c)3 corporation.

cOMO-cal’s tHe vOice (2005-2011)COMO-CAL has been very responsive to its membership.

During its’ 7 years, it was the only state-wide group besides GSMOL. Its’ newsletter, The Voice, was second to none. Clay Butler, of the website Sham Conversions (http://shamconver-sions.com/), posted the following on his front page:

Hands down the absolute best mobile home newslet-ter out there. Worth the price of membership just for that alone. Started by Frank Wodley and run by people who actually live in a mobile home park like yourselves. I urge you to become a COMO-CAL member.

COMO-CAL printed and mailed over 1.3 million pages of The Voice, providing a wealth of information to its’ members. Remember, Knowledge is Power and COMO-CAL did a great job in that area.

cOMO-cal’s faQ HanDbOOk (2005- tODay)Over the years, several thousand residents have received

a copy of COMO-CAL’s Frequently Asked Questions Handbook. Today you can receive a copy by joining Mobile Home Owners Network (www.mhonet.org) and sending $2 for postage. The Handbook provides answers to 58 commonly asked questions about living in California mobilehome parks and was compiled by the Senate Select Committee. The type font is large for easy reading. It is a “must have reference” for all MH owners and should be your first line-of-defense.

prOpOsitiOns 90, 98 & 99 (2006 & 2008)Some of you may remember Proposition 90 in 2006. It was

a Trojan Horse under the guise of eminent domain. If passed it would have eliminated all rent stabilization in California. In fact, COMO-CAL was the first to alert the Community about this threat. COMO-CAL spent considerable time and money defeating Proposition 90. We worked side-by-side with other advocates. That in itself is a victory. Overall, the defeat of Prop. 90 was a great success.

Two years later (June 2008), two more propositions surfaced (98 and 99). Proposition 98 would have also eliminated rent control and was primarily supported by park owners. COMO-CAL mounted a strong campaign, along with many other groups and 98 was soundly defeated.

Had either 90 or 98 passed, as many as 170,000 mobile-home owners would have lost rent control costing them billions of dollars! Yes, billions! You can read more about these propositions at http://ballotpedia.org/ and see who supported the propositions. Proposition 98 was supported by hundreds of mobilehome park owners contributing over $6.7 million. Had Proposition 98 passed, the pay-off to park owners would have been huge, i.e. no more caps! Certainly COMO-CAL earned a pat on the back for its’ role in this terrific victory.

$600,000+ saveD (2008)In 2008, several park owners in the San Fernando Valley

issued notices that rent increases would be 4%, although the legal increase was 3%. While researching the issue, COMO-CAL discovered park owners were not following the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance, i.e. by now following the law they were able to give illegal increases.

We were able to roll back the illegal 4% increase to a legal 3% increase (The Voice, January 2009, page 4) for 854 spaces in 6 SFV parks. We estimate a savings of about $71,000 per year. Over the last 9 years, that’s a total savings of about $639,000! We would say, if nothing else, this is a huge success, wouldn’t you, especially when we only received about $75,000 from the Community during this time. It shows again the value of our organization.

cOnflict Of interest expOseD (2008)During the period 2002 through 2008, Attorney Maurice

Priest purchased several mobilehome parks, i.e. he was essen-tially a park owner. During that same period he was corporate council (advisor) and lobbyist for GSMOL.

Our article (The Voice October 2008) exposed this serious conflict of interest. Mr. Priest left GSMOL one month later, after about 25 years of service. We are proud and consider this one of our most important accomplishments.

suMMits witH OtHer aDvOcates (2009)In 2009, at the request of GSMOL, we attended three

summits intended to get all advocates on the same page and supporting GSMOL’s legislation. We believe Christine Minnehan, GSMOL’s newly hired lobbyist, was responsible, and we appreciate her efforts. Thank you Christine.

Code of Ethics: We have always been concerned how advocates treat each other (GSMOL has continuously tried to undermine our efforts and question the integrity of our work). Consequently, we published a Code of Ethics in The Voice, February 2009, page 9 and suggested, at the first



Summit, advocates adopt such a Code. Unfortunately it was not approved.

We are also proud that we suggested, at the second summit, GSMOL, COMO-CAL, and others team up as one voice. Unfortunately the idea was rejected by the GSMOL Board a month later. Sadly, no UNITY!

brainstOrMing wOrksHOps (2009)

Photo: Carpinteria 2009. Attendees front row: Gerald Lenhard, Jim Richards & Jim Burr (GSMOL). In group behind, Merle Pitman (MHOC), and Frank Wodley (COMO-CAL).

In 2009, COMO-CAL teamed up with Mobile Home Owners Coalition of Ojai (Merle Pitman) to sponsor two state-wide brainstorming workshops on subjects such as orga-nization, politics, legislation and rules and regulations. The first was held in Carpentaria, the second in San Rafael. They were attended by 35-40 leaders from many advocacy groups, including GSMOL. The workshops demonstrated advocates can work together to produce positive results.

free/lOw cOst attOrney assistance (2011)In 2011, the FILLS Program (Free Individual Limited legal

Services) was introduced and successfully helped many of our members. Unfortunately, it was discontinued when the lead attorney “dropped off the face of the earth.” COMO-CAL hired two replacements, yet both just took the money without providing any assistance. Although the attorney assistance program was eventually terminated, the idea was sound, i.e. it provided low cost legal services to our members. By the way, we intend to reintroduce a similar program later in 2017.

MObileHOMe Magazine (2011 - tODay)The first full color Mobilehome Magazine was published

on September 2011. Our goal was to reach as many mobile-home owners as possible, at a very low cost (advertising would help pay expenses). Between 2011 and today, we have published and distributed over 700,000 magazines to the Community. No one else is providing this service to mobile-home owners. No one! We’d say this is a huge success. We believe Knowledge is Power!

tHe regiOnal grOup plan (2014 - 2017)In November 2014, we introduced the Regional Group Plan

and have published almost 30 articles on it since. In February 2017, we listed 45 separate benefits for the Plan. Included are a) getting all advocates (including GSMOL) working together, b) giving regional leaders the resources they need to resolve problems in their area, and c) the Plan provides for funding all groups. In fact it would fund GSMOL’s lobbyist in Sacra-mento and GSMOL wouldn’t have to fight for members. This is huge. California residents deserve advocates working together.

inDex by subject (2005 - 2017)We’ve published 7 years of COMO-CAL’s The Voice and

6 years of Mobilehome Magazine (MH Life), including over 1,000 articles, by attorneys, leaders, advocates, residents and others. Now we’ve indexed every article by subject, i.e. you can easily find articles on subject of interest to you. More on the index next month.

HOMeOwner bill Of rigHts (2017)Early in 2017 we wrote put together a Homeowner Bill of

Rights (see page 9) using existing information from the park owners group (WMA), the national group and the Mobile-home Residency Law. It provides the foundation for other homeowner rights. Residents have rights!

enfOrceMent is critical (2004-tODay)Over the years, we have been a strong proponent of a viable

means to enforce the Civil Code (Mobilehome Residency Law - MRL). We have opposed any new legislation for the simple reason new laws, without enforcement, are not worth the paper they are written on. We have promoted the Wash-ington State Dispute Resolution Program - http://www.atg.wa.gov/manufactured-housing-dispute-resolution-program.

ab1269 (2017)We are very happy to see AB1269 by Assemblymember

Stone. Called the Mobilehome Residents and Seniors Protec-tion Act, if passed, it will provide a viable means for residents to challenge illegal behavior in California parks. We support AB1269 100%. But remember, if passed, it only becomes effective in July 2019, two years from now.

OtHer accOMplisHMents

The above are just a few of our accomplishments over the last 13 years. Space doesn’t allow us to detail all of them here. And remember, we accomplished all this on a shoe-string budget. Our lobbyist group has taken in about 40 times the amount we have during the same period. We’d venture to say we’ve accomplished more on about 2.5% of their income. HUGE!



TestimonialsEditor’s Note: Although our name has changed over the

years, we are basically the same organization. Our goals and philosophy haven’t changed since our inception in 2004. If anything, we have more experience now and are better able to serve you, California mobilehome owners.

Butte County Mobilehome Owners Association(BCMOA) SAYS: “COMO-CAL........Best potential for helping mobile-home residents in parks...Has the best newsletter- THE VOICE...becoming increasingly effective in Sacramento...certainly deserves the support of mobilehome residents.”

The Modesto Advocacy says: “COMO-CAL instantly became a vital resource for material and data we didn’t even know existed. The organization is for park residents throughout California who are striving for survival. COMO-CAL’s newsletter, THE VOICE, provides infor-mation on current and future challenges we confront, and help is a phone call away. A bonus is the ability to become involved in State legislation that affects all of us. Become an active member of COMO-CAL and join “the force” fighting for YOUR rights.”

The Park Home Residents Action Alliance (PHRAA) in the United Kingdom says: “The one great weapon mobile homeowners in California have to your advantage is that you have CoMO-CAL administered by a team headed by Frank, Sally and others all equally committed to the cause. These are the people who have voluntarily pushed up their heads into the firing line to win the extremely difficult, and at times very dangerous, battle for your rights, freedom from persecution to enjoy your chosen lifestyle in the peace and quiet you have earned and rightly deserve. PHRAA is proud and privileged to be associated with CoMO-CAL and looks forward to enjoying a long and fruitful relationship with its terrific team.”

Mel Robinson, Lakefront Mobile Home Community Lakeside, Ca: I would like to first congratulate you for the Professionalism of THE VOICE. The publication is filled with very important and informative information for those of us that live in Mobile Home Community in the state of California. I am the past President of COMPAC, INC (County Mobilehome Political Action Committee) in San Diego County, and have watched the growth of the Coalition of Mobilehome Owners in the state. Congratulations. A great job with the issues of legislation at the state level. We sure have to work hard for our rights don’t we?

Joan A. Malone President/Cal Hawaiian HOA California Hawaiian Mobile Estates San Jose, CA (spearheaded their recent $111M win): Join another organization? Why? What can they do for me? I was pleasantly surprised to find out exactly what they could do for me. I am so impressed with the dedication COMO-CAL puts into helping people who live in Manufactured/Mobile Home Communities. I can’t believe

these people are volunteers with the amount of work they put in. Frank Wodley, President of COMO-CAL, has ALWAYS answered my e-mails and phone calls. He is always there to answer questions and point you in the right direction to assist you with problems in your park. I have learned so much from their newsletters, THE VOICE. The writers are infor-mative and knowledgeable. Basically, WHY WOULDN’T YOU JOIN AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS WILLING TO FIGHT FOR “YOUR” RIGHTS? The cost of membership pays for itself over and over again, by keeping you informed and helping you to understand when your rights are being violated. Thank you Frank and other volunteers for being there for us and doing such a phenomenal job!!!!

Roger Svensson, Rancho Santa Barbara MHP: CoMO-CAL is a group that calls an ACE an ACE and a SPADE a SPADE! If you want answers, example and direct help, this is the organization to be a part of. I have been involved in mobile home park politics for over 5 yrs. and can say this organization is outstanding. They pull no punches when it comes to greedy and dishonest park owners who are numerous in Ca. We are vulnerable to them if not well informed. I suggest if you want secrecy or timid actions in dealing with your landlords go see an expensive lawyer. A better choice is to let CoMO-CAL help you with all of their experience and share the info. with the rest of us so we can all learn.

Frankie Bruce, ex-GSMOL Regional Manager, San Diego: I support the Regional Group Plan, in every respect, and have volunteered to lead the Regional Group in my area. It is a no brainer! The Plan will allow me to continue my lead-ership, use MH Life Magazine as the magazine for my region (incorporating park, local, regional news), and provides the funding necessary for me and other advocates in my region to effectively do their jobs and serve MH owners. The Plan also provides a Legal Fund, so I will soon have the services of a local attorney if and when I need a consultation or letters written on behalf of my members.

Finally after many years of service, I feel I can really begin to do my work because I will have the tools and won’t be alone anymore. I personally urge all GSMOL Managers and members to get behind this Plan. Under the Plan, GSMOL won’t have to fight for members or funding as the Plan provides automatic funding for a lobbyist. The Plan is a win-win for every advocate and more importantly for all California mobilehome owners.

(Ollie Kirby, the former President of GSMOL Chapter 227 provided her thoughts in The Voice, January 2011, page 12. We quote: The reason why I have become a staunch advocate for COMO-CAL is two fold: 1) Their high ethical standards and 2) Their devotion to working with mobilehome owners at the grass roots level.



Why Should You Join Us?You may ask: Does The Network provide value to me? Is

it worth the $20/year for me to join (now $5 + $2 postage for the Handbook)? Our answer: a resounding YES! Our 13 year history speaks for itself. Anyone that disputes that simply doesn’t know anything about us.

jOin & receive iMMeDiate benefits

Membership is based on the calendar year. Join in 2017 and your membership ends 12/31/2017. Until that time, you will:

• Receive a Welcome Letter, which includes your membership number and other important information.

• Receive a monthly issue of MH Life Magazine.

• Have access to Help Line (818-886-6479)

• Have peace of mind knowing someone is working 24/7 to protect your rights. We will continue to improve our service, and find ways to work together with advocates in order to unify our community.

• When you pay the additional $2 postage, we will mail our 36 page Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Handbook. It is a must-have for all residents (must have 20 members in your park) - provided A free tip that will help you save your hard-earned money and will pay for your membership many times over. And more tips to come - all free.

• If you are not completely satisfied, we offer a 90 day guarantee.

as MeMbersHip grOws

• We will hire an attorney to serve the community

• We will hire a lobbyist to legislate new laws, such as enforcement of the Mobilehome Residency Law.

• Mobilehome Magazine will fund all advocates, including park and local groups. (only if they support our efforts)

• Networking among regions, sharing of information, sharing of successes.

yOu Must be invOlveD, periOD!No individual or group can protect you against unscru-

pulous park owners, without your help. There is no way to get around it. We believe the main reason why there is wide spread illegal activity today is because residents make

bad choices. Over the years we’ve heard hundreds of excuses why they won’t get involved. We’ve heard they are afraid, they don’t have any money, management may retaliate if they join, etc. Some park owners have done an excellent job intimidating their residents. Your inaction is exactly what they want to see.

The current legislation AB1269 is able to provide you a means to deal with violations of the Civil Code only when each and every mobilehome owner has contributed $5/year. Of course it is not yet law, but we hope it does. Mobile-home owners need a viable way to challenge park owners.

yOur respOnsibilities

Remember, you can’t reap unless you sow.

• If you do nothing else, join us. Fill out the applica-tion on page 9. Or you can call us at 818-886-6479 and we will take your information over the phone. Nothing to mail or fill out. Remember, it’s only $7 for the balance of 2017 (includes the $5 Handbook).

• Donate to our legal fund - give at least $10. We need money to hire an attorney. Our goal is to challenge illegal activity (manager abuse, interference of sales, interference with distribution of information, etc.)

• If you do not have a resident’s organization in your park, call us and we’ll help you form one. Remember, there is Strength in Numbers.

• Start a park newsletter. It’s a way to generate money for your cause and inform. We will provide the news-letter with your content, just ask us.

• Order MH Life Magazine, it’s free, and distribute it with your park newsletter once a month.

actiOns Have cOnseQuences

Why do you think parks cross the legal line? Of course, it’s all about money and that money comes from your pocket. Hundreds of millions are lost each year. Unless you act, nothing will change. Is that what you really want?

Why do you think parks can continue breaking the law? Because most mobilehome owners won’t life even a finger to stop it. You and you alone are responsible. But now you have an opportunity. Let us help! We guarantee results. You have nothing to lose. Do it for yourself, do it for your friends and neighbors, do it for your kids. Do it for the community. Only then you can really say:

I support the Community! Do you?



RENTS, FEES & TAXES � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4Rent Increases � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4Pass-Through Fees � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4Short Notice of Rent Increase � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4Back Rent � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5Club House Deposits� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5Security Deposits � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5Deducting Rent - Lack of Park Utilities � � � � � � � � � � � 6Withholding Rent if Park Loses Permit � � � � � � � � � � � 6Late Fees � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6Mobilehome Property Taxes � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6Property Taxes Too High � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 7Section 8 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 7

UTILITIES � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8Park Utility Costs� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8Separating Charges � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8Park Cable TV Antenna System Fees � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8Water Charges in Park� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9

LEASES & RENTAL AGREEMENTS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9Long Leases Exempt from Rent Control � � � � � � � � � � 9Leases in Language Not English � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �10

TERMINATION OF TENANCY � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �10Eviction for Late Payment Of Rent � � � � � � � � � � � � � �10Eviction for Rule Violations � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �10Termination at End Of Rental Agreement � � � � � � � � 11Rights in Park-Owned Mobilehomes � � � � � � � � � � � � 11Park Closure � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12

PARK RULES & REGULATIONS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12Rules v� The MRL Rule Changes � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12Selective Enforce of Park Rules � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13Senior Park Changed to All-Age � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13All-Age Park Changed Back to a Senior Park� � � � � � � � � � 14Occupancy Standards � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14Clubhouse Hours � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14Pets� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15Parking Problems� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15Subleasing � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15RV’s in Mobilehome Parks � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15Caregiver Residency in Park � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 16Park Maintenance, Inspections & Services � � � � � � � 16

Failure to Maintain the Park� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 16Mobilehome Park Inspection Program � � � � � � � � � 16Reduction of Park Services� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 17Lot Lines � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 17Trees and Driveways � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 17Responsible for Pre-Existing Code Violations � � � � � � � � 18Permit for Remodel� Mobilehome� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 18Home Rehabilitation Assistance � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 19

PARK CONVERSION TO RESIDENT OWNERSHIP � � � � � �19Park Condo Conversion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 19Right of First Refusal to Buy Park � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 19Laws Appl� to Resident Owned Parks � � � � � � � � � � � �20

PARK OWNERS & MANAGERS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21Park Manager Intimidation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21Park Violations of The Mrl � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21Contacting Park Owner/Operator � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21Management Not Available in Emergencies � � � � � � 22Park Manager Entering Lot � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 22

HOME SALES, RESALES & TRANSFERS � � � � � � � � � � 23Selling Home in Place in the Park � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 23Resale of a Park Model in the Park � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 23New Buyer Income Requirement � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 23Rights of Heirs Inheriting Mobile � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 24Used Homes - Resale Disclosure � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 24Homeowners Required to Sell to Park � � � � � � � � � � � 24New Home Defects and Warranties � � � � � � � � � � � � � 25Other California Senate Select Committee Information � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 25

SERVICES PROVIDED BY COMO-CAL � � � � � � � � � � � 26

ARTICLES BY COMO-CAL� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 27-33

TESTIMONIALS FOR COMO-CAL � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 34

CONTACT INFORMATION - COMO-CAL � � � � � � � � 35

Handbook of Frequently Asked Questions The “Handbook” (a $5 value) was actually compiled by the Select Committee on Manufactured Homes and Communi-

ties. We thank Stephanie Reid, Senator Richard Roth and other committee members for the opportunity to publish it and offer it to our readers. It is an invaluable reference which should be consulted whenever an issue comes up.

Now you can receive it when you join The Network. Just fill out the application on page 9, and add $2 postage to your membership fee. Below is a list of questions, we’re sure you will find some of them interesting.



The Network’s Help LinewHO can call tHe Help line?

All Network members have access to the our Help Line. Call us at 818-886-6479 or 800-929-6061 between 9am and 5pm, Monday through Friday. If no one answers, leave a message and we will return your call promptly.

tHe Help line Deals Only witH specific issues This is important. The Help Line can not answer all

questions. We are not attorneys. For questions regarding evictions, tenant/tenant issues, and other similar issues, we suggest you refer to legal aid in your area.

However, we are happy to handle questions on specific issues that are high priorities for us such as:

• Failure to maintain, i.e. when your park owner is not maintaining your park, call us. We can provide some

direction and assistance.

• Manager abuse issues, including threats of eviction, retaliation, invalid rules and regulations.

• Issues with distribution of literature. Call us if your manager interferes with the distribution of MH Life Magazine. We want to know

• Any issues with rights as listed in our Bill of Rights as listed in the January 2017 MH Life Magazine (right of assembly, i.e. hold meetings in the clubhouse, interfer-ence of sales, i.e. making demands at time of sale, not approving qualified buyers, etc.).

It is important that you communicate with us. We are ready to draw a line in the sand and confront managers and owners that violate the law. Call us. We will never use your name without your permission, i.e. we will protect you from possible retaliation.

Network (MHONET) Membership Application NAME:_______________________________________________ Date:______________________

MAILING ADDRESS:________________________E-MAIL:_____________________________

SPACE #:__________CITY:________________________________ ZIP:____________________

PHONE #:_____________________________PARK NAME:______________________________

____ Network Membership + Handbook (expires 12/31/2017)� ($7) $______

____ Legal Fund $______

____ I believe in the cause and your good work� I want to donate� $______

____ I will help out� ____ I will deliver magazines� ____ I will get members�

Make Checks Payable to: Mobilehome Magazine

MAIL TO: Mobilehome Magazine, P�O� BOX 3774 , Chatsworth, CA� 91313 9/2017



Manufactured Homeowner Bill of Rights*Manufactured-home owners and their families are

entitled to enjoy the same constitutional freedoms as all other Americans. Sources: WMA: Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association. NMHOA: National Manufactured Home Owners Association. MRL: Mobilehome Residency Law.

1. Homeowners shall be free to speak, including, but not limited to, the right to distribute informa-tional & educational fliers detailing the rights of manufactured home owners. (NMHOA & MRL 798.51(a)3). The NO SOLICITATION rule does not apply to park residents or advocacy publications distributed by residents.

2. Homeowners shall be free to assemble (including, but not limited to, the right to organize a home owners’ asso-ciation, the right to peaceably assemble, and the right to hold association meetings at the community’s clubhouse to discuss issues of importance to manufactured home owners). (NMHOA & MRL 798.51(a)1-2 & 798.15(i)5)

3. Homeowners can expect recognition of their rights to privacy, respect, courtesy and dignity. The goal of management is the contentment, security and peace of mind of residents. (WMA). Managers will treat home-owners with respect and courtesy and in a professional manner. (WMA). This means no shouting, yelling or fighting with residents or other abuse by managers.

4. Managers will observe residents’ rights to privacy (WMA), i.e. they will not come on residents’ property, without the appropriate notification, and then only to maintain the driveway, trim trees or read meters. (MRL Sections 798.26 / 798.15(i)7)

5. Management pledges residents shall be free of worry of arbitrary or unlawful termination of tenancy. (WMA). Managers may not threaten residents for any reason, e.g. ‘if you don’t like it here, then move.’ Managers must follow the MRL process when evicting a resident, i.e. there are only 7 legal reasons a resident may be evicted. MRL 798.55-56 & 798.15(i)3.

6. Parks shall establish, in writing, rules and regulations that are reasonable and make them available to all residents. (WMA)/ MRL 798.56(d). Managers will provide residents written documentation, should issues arise, and shall not ‘make up new rules or regulations’ on the fly. Homeowners are entitled to equal protection under the law, including, but not limited to, the right to the peaceful enjoyment of one’s home and the uniform and consistent enforcement of rules and regulations. (NMHOA) MRL 798.25.5

7. Managers shall not threaten retaliation or retaliate against a resident for any reason, including the formation of a Home Owners Association by residents or the filing of a complaint against management. (NMHOA). Represen-tatives of advocate organizations shall have the right to file complaints on behalf of a park resident, if so delegated, by the resident.

8. Homeowners have the right to sue, in small claims court, a manager or park owner who willfully violates any provision of the Mobilehome Residency Law. MRL Section 798.85-86.

*Compiled from the WMA Code of Ethics, the NMHOA Bill of Rights and the California Mobilehome Residency Law by the Mobilehome Magazine, P.O. Box 3774, Chatsworth CA 91313. 800-929-6061/818-886-6479, [email protected].



Why Do Parks Interfere With Sales of Homes?wHy DOes interference Happen?

Of course it’s all about money! The park wants to:

1. Discourage a seller enough so that he lowers his price or sells to the park for pennies on the dollar.

2. With enough pressure, sellers may take the easy way out and just leave their home to the park.

3. Direct a buyer to a mobilehome where the park may make money on the sale.

HOw DOes tHe park gain?1. They get a mobilehome and the space it sits on, often

times at reduced cost.

2. They often remove the mobilehome, leaving just the space, which now is no longer under rent control.

3. They often move on new double wide or triple wide mobilehome, selling it at a profit, sometimes $40-50,000 or more.

4. The value of the park increases whenever income increases (keep in mind that the cost of maintenance and overhead is about $150.00/space. Anything over and above the $150.00 is the parks profit). Any increase in space rent results in greater income; thus increased park value. The park wins several ways.

5. The park may get money “under the table” from favored real estate companies and/or agents. Some managers interfere just to be nasty to residents they may not like.

HOw DO parks interfere?1. They use Housing and Community Development

(HCD). One manager phoned HCD complaining about three mobilehomes in a park. HCD came out (without a formal written request) and wrote up all three homes for “health and safety” violations. The manager followed up with a letter to each stating there were serious violations that needed to be resolved ASAP and prospective buyers had to be told of the violations. This is interference of a sale!

2. Most parks have a sign out front “Prospective buyers must see manager.” This way the manager can steer the buyer to look at only certain mobilehomes in the park.

3. Often management will incorrectly tell sellers that they can’t sell their mobilehome. Some state that it is too old and the park wants to upgrade by getting rid of older mobilehomes and putting new homes in their place. This has happened in Indian Hills, Chatsworth, Valle Verde and other parks.

4. A mobilehome MUST be moved only if it violates the Health and Safety code – unsafe stairs, railings, porches,

electrical chords outside, refuse, debris, etc. and it is of a certain age. Age alone is not a criteria.

5. Another way parks interfere is when your qualified buyer is not approved. Remember, the park must provide a buyer a reason why their tenancy was declined – in writing. There are only two reasons to refuse tenancy – the ability to pay the space rent and the expectation that the buyer wouldn’t observe park rules and regulations nor had a history of evictions.

6. The park legally has 15 days to approve a buyer. Often times they will take longer and your buyer will go elsewhere.

7. Often times the park will give you a list of repairs to be completed before you can sell. This can involve painting the exterior of your home, repairing steps, railings, porch, etc. Sometimes they give more than one list – even within a couple days of escrow closing.

8. Parks sometimes try to evict people without going through the legal steps required. They try to scare people into leaving and/or selling their mobilehome. Sometimes the resident just walks away from his home.

9. Some managers tell residents they can’t sell “By Owner” and should go through a certain company.

10. Management may tell sellers their price is too high.

wHat can yOu DO tO prOtect yOurself?1. Know the laws, read Mobilehome Magazine and ask

questions.

2. Know that the park may upgrade, but can not force you to move your mobilehome unless there are UNCOR-RECTED health and safety violations. Those violations only take into account problems OUTSIDE your mobilehome. Wiring, appliances, etc inside can not be included in health and safety violations.

3. Verify income for your seller or have your real estate agent do it, so you are prepared prior to the meeting with park management.

4. If the park “pushes” you, you should write a letter to management and the park owner. Usually they won’t reply. Then organize a pro-resident group and stand up to these park practices.

5. Order a copy of “Clay Harrison’s Sellers Guide.” This is available from Mobilehome Magazine.

Of course, the above certainly is not complete, but it covers the main ways parks interfere and how parks make extra money through this practice. MH Life Magazine is very interested. If your sale is being compromised, PLEASE CONTACT US. Questions and comments may be directed to Frank Wodley, Editor/Publisher of MH Life Magazine at 818-886-6479 or [email protected]. To God Be The Glory



Don’t Make The Same Mistakes We’ve Made You are vulnerable when purchasing a home in a park

where you pay rent to a landlord and live on his land. This is not up for debate. This situation brings difficult challenges including how to deal with manager abuse, 7 day notices, loss of rights etc. And when confronted with these chal-lenges, residents usually make poor choices.

we get it

We understand because we’ve been there ourselves. We’ve received threatening letters, we’ve received 7 day notices. We had no clue what to do. We’ve been forced to hire an attorney, at considerable cost. Did it work? Short answer: NO. Bottom Line: We are all unprepared to deal with the many challenges we face in a rental park, especially when your landlord is unscrupulous and breaks the law for self-profit.

DOn’t Make tHe saMe Mistakes

On of our goals is to provide you information so that you don’t make the same mistakes we, and others have made. That’s one important benefit of reading MH Life Magazine and joining The Network, i.e. sharing experiences.

future Meetings in yOur park

We have come to understand the importance to hold meetings in your park, i.e. providing you MH Life Magazine is not enough. To that end, we have hired Kathleen Martin in the Sacramento area and are looking to hire in Orange County, the San Gabriel Valley, San Diego and other areas. Remember, positions are part time and pay as much as $15 per hour. Further, please invite us to your park!

wHat Have we learneD

We have learned many lessons in our 13 years serving the mobilehome community. We know most mobilehome owners are unprepared when they purchase their home. As a result, they tend to make poor choices when it comes to protecting themselves, their investment, and lifestyle. Here is a list.

In general, mobilehome owners:

1. Prefer handling problems on their own.

2. Feel, as last resort, they can always hire an attorney.

3. Decide it safer to hide in their homes, away from the park managers radar.

4. Resist joining any advocate group, whether state-wide, regional or local.

5. Decide not to challenge management or ask questions, and except everything management says as the absolute truth.

6. Often fear eviction or at the very least retaliation if they challenge management, ask questions, attend advocacy meetings or join an advocacy group.

7. Don’t want to be involved and just want to live their lives in peace and quiet.

gOOD jOb ManageMent!Management has done a good job ‘training’ residents.

Congratulations! When you make choices like those above, management wins. They love it when you: don’t join anything, don’t unite with other residents, don’t challenge them, don’t use your power or don’t read any advocacy information. They love it when you remain alone They know that’s when you are most vulnerable.

Park Owners and Manager - The Good vs The Bad

wMa - tHe park Owners aDvOcacy grOup

Western Manufactured Housing Communities Associa-tion (WMA) is the ‘go-to’ park owners group. Approximately 40% of all parks owners belong to the WMA. It advocates for park owners in Sacramento and around the state. They are everywhere. They are often attorneys and/or park owners themselves.

If you have a minute, go to their website (http://www.wma.org/) and click on Membership/Code of Ethics. One would think they would challenge park owners who break the law; however, we have personal experience they simply run interference for ‘bad’ owners and allow them to continue to cross the legal line.

Our effOrts tO cHallenge illegal beHaviOur Unfortunately, this industry is not self-regulating. If it

were, the ‘good’ park owners and their representatives would challenge unscrupulous park owners. Why not? When a park owner or their manager breaks the law, it reflects on the whole industry, doesn’t it?

One important goal of MH Life Magazine is to expose illegal activity by park owners, while The Network chal-lenges their illegal actions via an attorney writing letters to the offenders.



Making Better ChoicesRefer to the previous page and the list of choices under

What Have We Learned:

1. You are most vulnerable when you are alone. You are an easy target for managers. Your best protection is joining a group and being active. There really is Strength in Numbers.

2. There are a lot of reasons why hiring an attorney is not the best choice you can make to defend yourself. Read our article on attorneys in the October 2014 issue of MH Life Magazine, pages D&E. We feel the best use of an attorney is by an advocacy group, not by individuals.

3. We hear all the time that residents are afraid - afraid of being evicted or getting a notice from manage-ment, or afraid of retaliation if they join a group. Rest assured, no one will know you are a member of The Network, no one!

4. Strength in Numbers works. Joining a group dedicated to serving you is your best bet, hands down. And we have demonstrated joining The Network is the wisest decision you can make. It should be a no brainer.

5. Illegal acts have continued for many decades because park owners and managers have not been challenged. Our goal is to draw a line in the sand today and do our best to stop the illegal activities of some park owners and managers. Only then will mobilehome owners and their heirs have hope for the future.

6. No longer do YOU have to directly challenge park owners and/or managers. Use us as the middle man. They can’t evict us. And we have enough power not to be intimidated. Join and use us to challenge. Soon we will reinstate the FILLS legal program.

7. If you are a mobilehome owner living on land not

belonging to you and paying rent for the privilege, you are involved, period. And as long as parks are bought and sold, those not having issues today are vulnerable tomorrow.

ManDateD fees

What is a mandated fee? It is a fee imposed to pay for a program. Cities and the state can impose these fees. In fact, many of us are already paying our cities to administer rent stabilization ordinances. These are mandated fees.

Unfortunately, advocates do not have the power to mandate fees. They have had to rely on mobilehome owners to voluntarily support them, something which residents do not do (as per our 13 year experience).

It’s too bad advocates don’t have the power to mandate membership dues. We know if mobile home owners support the Regional Group Plan, and get all advocates working together, they will see just what we can accomplish. We know this will unify the community.

state ManDate fOr ab1269 Under the proposed legislation AB1269 (Mobilehome

Residents and Senior Protection Act), the state can mandate a $5 fee on park owners to pay for the program; however, the owners can pass the $5 back to the residents. In essence, you will be paying $5 for this program. Bottom line: the mandate results in a fund of almost $2,000,000! Certainly enough funds to have Fair Housing begin taking complaints from the mobilehome community.

AB1269 works because the mandate is not voluntary, i.e. it doesn’t have to rely on homeowners to make good choices (like joining). In fact, such a program should have been legislated 30-40 years ago! That $150 to $200 it cost would have meant few if any violations of the Mobilehome Residency Law today!

Our WebsitesDon’t forget, we have two terrific websites:

www.comocal.org & www.mobilehomemagazine.org

At comocal.org, you can select articles to view by searching key words such as rent control, managers, etc. You can also leave a comment, simply by clicking the logo at the bottom right of each article. Also, you can view and download any and all magazines by clicking on the Magazines tab directly above the first photo. We’re happy to see many are visiting the website, now over 1500 hits.

Please note that you can join or donate to COMO-CAL via the PayPal buttons on the home page and membership page. You do not have to have a PayPal account, you can simply use a credit card for any transaction.

If there is a subject you’d like us to address, please let us know. You can call us at 818-886-6479, email us at [email protected] or write us at MH Life Magazine, P.O. Box 3774, Chatsworth, CA. 91313. Remember, we’re here to serve you. Help us help you be saying hello from time to time!



God Will Save MeA terrible storm came into a town and local officials

sent out an emergency warning that the riverbanks would soon overflow and flood the nearby homes. They ordered everyone in the town to evacuate immediately.

A faithful Christian man heard the warning and decided to stay, saying to himself, “I will trust God and if I am in danger, then God will send a divine miracle to save me.”

The neighbors came by his house and said to him, “We’re leaving and there is room for you in our car, please come with us!” But the man declined. “I have faith that God will save me.”

As the man stood on his porch watching the water rise up the steps, a man in a canoe paddled by and called to him, “Hurry and come into my canoe, the waters are rising quickly!” But the man again said, “No thanks, God will save me.”

The floodwaters rose higher pouring water into his living room and the man had to retreat to the second floor. A police motorboat came by and saw him at the window. “We

will come up and rescue you!” they shouted. But the man refused, waving them off saying, “Use your time to save someone else! I have faith that God will save me!”

The flood waters rose higher and higher and the man had to climb up to his rooftop.

A helicopter spotted him and dropped a rope ladder. A rescue officer came down the ladder and pleaded with the man, “Grab my hand and I will pull you up!” But the man STILL refused, folding his arms tightly to his body. “No thank you! God will save me!”

Shortly after, the house broke up and the floodwaters swept the man away and he drowned.

When in Heaven, the man stood before God and asked, “I put all of my faith in You. Why didn’t You come and save me?”

And God said, “Son, I sent you a warning. I sent you a car. I sent you a canoe. I sent you a motorboat. I sent you a helicopter. What more were you looking for?”

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Requirements:

• Passionate about our cause

• Has computer & internet. Not afraid of technology

• A people person / Good communicator

• Responsible, honest, trustworthy

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Responsibilities:

• Promote MH Life and The Network

• Call contacts in parks, visit parks, call meetings

• Be the face of MH Life and The Network

Compensation: $10-$15 per hour depending on qualifications

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