California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 587

Introduced by Assembly Member Chau

February 24, 2015

An act to amend Section 798.15 of the Civil Code, relating to mobilehomes.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 587, as introduced, Chau. Mobilehome park residencies: rental agreements.

The Mobilehome Residency Law governs the terms and conditions of residency in mobilehome parks and prescribes the content of a rental agreement for a tenancy. The law requires that a copy of the Mobilehome Residency Law be provided as an exhibit and incorporated into the rental agreement by reference.

This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes in these provisions.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 798.15 of the Civil Code is amended to
read:

798.15.  

The rental agreement shall be in writing and shall
contain, in addition to the provisions otherwise required by law to
be included, all of the following:

(a) The term of the tenancy and the rent therefor.

(b) The rules and regulations of the park.

(c) A copy of the text of this chapter shall be provided as an
exhibit and shall be incorporated into the rental agreement by
reference. Management shall do one of the following prior to
February 1 of each year, if a significant change was made in this
chapter by legislation enacted in the prior year:

(1) Provide all homeowners with a copy of this chapter.

(2) Provide written notice to all homeowners that there has been
a change to this chapter and that they may obtain one copy of this
chapter from management at no charge. Management shall provide
a copy within a reasonable time, not to exceed seven days, upon
request.

(d) A provision specifying begin delete that (1) it end delete begin insert that: end insert

begin insert (1) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert It end insert is the responsibility of the management to provide and
maintain physical improvements in the common facilities in good
working order and begin delete condition and (2) with end delete begin insert condition. end insert

begin insert (2) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert With end insert respect to a sudden or unforeseeable breakdown or
deterioration of these improvements, the management shall have
a reasonable period of time to repair the sudden or unforeseeable
breakdown or deterioration and bring the improvements into good
working order and condition after management knows or should
have known of the breakdown or deterioration. For purposes of
this begin delete subdivision end delete begin insert paragraph end insert , a reasonable period of time to repair
a sudden or unforeseeable breakdown or deterioration shall be as
soon as possible in situations affecting a health or safety condition,
and shall not exceed 30 days in any other case except where exigent
circumstances justify a delay.

(e) A description of the physical improvements to be provided
the homeowner during his or her tenancy.

(f) A provision listing those services which will be provided at
the time the rental agreement is executed and will continue to be
offered for the term of tenancy and the fees, if any, to be charged
for those services.

(g) A provision stating that management may charge a
reasonable fee for services relating to the maintenance of the land
and premises upon which a mobilehome is situated in the event
the homeowner fails to maintain the land or premises in accordance
with the rules and regulations of the park after written notification
to the homeowner and the failure of the homeowner to comply
within 14 days. The written notice shall state the specific condition
to be corrected and an estimate of the charges to be imposed by
management if the services are performed by management or its
agent.

(h) All other provisions governing the tenancy.

(i) A copy of the following notice. Management shall also, prior
to February 1 of each year, provide a copy of the following notice
to all homeowners:

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL MANUFACTURED HOME/MOBILEHOME OWNERS: CALIFORNIA LAW REQUIRES THAT YOU BE MADE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING:
The Mobilehome Residency Law (MRL), found in Section 798 et seq. of the Civil Code, establishes the rights and responsibilities of homeowners and park management. The MRL is deemed a part of the terms of any park rental agreement or lease. This notice is intended to provide you with a general awareness of selected parts of the MRL. It does not serve as a legal explanation or interpretation. For authoritative information, you must read and understand the laws. These laws change from time to time. In any year in which the law has changed, you may obtain one copy of the full text of the law from management at no charge. This notice is required by Civil Code Section 798.15(i) and the information provided may not be current.
Homeowners and park management have certain rights and responsibilities under the MRL. These include, but are not limited to:
1.		Management must give a homeowner written notice of any increase in his or her rent at least 90 days before the date of the increase. (Civil Code Section 798.30)
2.		No rental or sales agreement may contain a provision by which a purchaser or a homeowner waives any of his or her rights under the MRL. (Civil Code Sections 798.19, 798.77)
3.		Management may not terminate or refuse to renew a homeowner’s tenancy except for one or more of the authorized reasons set forth in the MRL. (Civil Code Sections 798.55, 798.56)
4.		A homeowner must give written notice to the management of not less than 60 days before vacating his or her tenancy. (Civil Code Section 798.59)
5.		Homeowners, residents, and their guests must comply with the rental agreement or lease, including the reasonable rules and regulations of the park and all applicable local ordinances and state laws and regulations relating to mobilehomes. Failure to comply could be grounds for eviction from the park. (Civil Code Section 798.56)
6.		Homeowners must pay rent, utility charges, and reasonable incidental service charges in a timely manner. Failure to comply could be grounds for eviction from the park. (Civil Code Section 798.56)
7.		Homeowners have a right to peacefully assemble and freely communicate with respect to mobilehome living and for social or educational purposes. Homeowners have a right to meet in the park, at reasonable hours and in a reasonable manner, for any lawful purpose. Homeowners may not be charged a cleaning deposit in order to use the park clubhouse for meetings of resident organizations or for other lawful purposes, such as to hear from political candidates, so long as a homeowner of the park is hosting the meeting and all park residents are allowed to attend. Homeowners may not be required to obtain liability insurance in order to use common facilities unless alcohol is served. (Civil Code Sections 798.50, 798.51)
8.		If a home complies with certain standards, the homeowner is entitled to sell it in place in the park. Management may require certain upgrades. Management may not require a homeowner to sell his or her home to the park, may not charge a transfer or selling fee, and may not require a homeowner to use a broker or dealer approved by the park. A homeowner has a right to advertise his or her home for sale. Management may deny approval of a buyer, but only for certain reasons listed in the law. (Civil Code Sections 798.70-798.74)
9.		Management has the right to enter the space upon which a mobilehome is situated for maintenance of utilities, trees, and driveways; for inspection and maintenance of the space in accordance with the rules and regulations of the park when the homeowner or resident fails to maintain the space; and for protection and maintenance of the mobilehome park at any reasonable time, but not in a manner or at a time that would interfere with the resident’s quiet enjoyment of his or her home. (Civil Code Section 798.26)
10.		A homeowner may not make any improvements or alterations to his or her space or home without following the rules and regulations of the park and all applicable local ordinances and state laws and regulations, which may include obtaining a permit to construct, and, if required by park rules or the rental agreement, without prior written approval of management. Failure to comply could be grounds for eviction from the park. (Civil Code Section 798.56)