Renters in a Mobile Home Park

  • I rent my mobile home.  I do not own it.  Do renters get the benefit of rent control?
    • It depends on who owns the mobile home – is it the park owner or a mobile home owner?
      • Does the park owner own the mobile home and rent the mobile home out?  In this case rent control does not apply.  It is as if the mobile home is an apartment in an apartment building.  The mobile home park rent control laws protect mobile homeowners because it is difficult to move a mobile home whenever there is a large rent increase.  California Civil Code 798.9 says a “Homeowner” is a person who has a tenancy in a mobile home park under a rental agreement.”  Rent control applies to a mobile home owner if he / she lives in the mobile home and has a month-to-month rental agreement. 
      • Does rent control apply to a homeowner who owns a mobile home but rents it out?  In this case rent control does apply.  California Civil Code 798.21(a) says “if a mobilehome space within a mobilehome park is not the principal residence of the homeowner and the homeowner has not rented the mobilehome to another party, it shall be exempt from any [rent control] ordinance...”  The mobile home park manager and mobile home owner must comply with the rent control laws for the benefit of the renter / tenant.