California MHP News

Mon, May 30, 2016 – On Saturday, June 25, 2016 at 1:00 PM, there will be a free Stop Elder Abuse! seminar held in the Chula Vista Civic Center Library Auditorium located at 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, California 91910 (Northeast Corner of Fourth Avenue and F Street).

This seminar will feature Attorneys Amy Lepine and Lois Kelly, and will be a great question and answer opportunity. There will be refreshments, attendance prizes and voter registration. Extra parking is available to the North and West of City Hall or the garage behind Marie Callendar's. All mobile home owners are invited to attend.

Sponsored By: California Manufactured Home Owner Alliance (CAMOA) and Chula Vista Mobile Home Residents Association (CVMHRA)

We must realize that the time is always right to do right!
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., April 14, 1967

Sat, May 28, 2016 – Over 75+ reviews and complaints from Sierra Corporate Management residents, potential buyers of mobile homes and City Council Members. These are mobile home parks in California managed by Sierra Corporate Management (SCM) and owned by a Kort & Scott Financial Group KSFG) named business entity.

Tue, May 24, 2016 – Sierra Corporate Management CANNOT threaten to report you to the Immigration Authorities or other law enforcement, nor make any other threat to intimidate and/or evict you. Civil Code §1940.2 (a) prohibits that, and makes Sierra Corporate Management liable for $2,000 for each such attempt, in addition to your actual losses. (Penal Code 518).

518. Extortion is the obtaining of property from another, with his consent, or the obtaining of an official act of a public officer, induced by a wrongful use of force or fear, or under color of official right.

519 (5). Fear, such as will constitute extortion, may be induced by a threat of any of the following: To report his, her, or their immigration status or suspected immigration status.

520. Every person who extorts any money or other property from another, under circumstances not amounting to robbery or carjacking, by means of force, or any threat, such as is mentioned in Section 519, shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for two, three or four years.
Penal Code Section 518-527

Fri, May 20, 2016 – On Wednesday, May 18, 2016, the senior residents of Sierra Mobile Home Park (55+) in Santa Clarita, California (a KSFG MHP) were notified via letter that Sierra Corporate Management are going to be performing “space by space inspections” of their mobile home park, the letter reads...

---

---

KSFG purchased Sierra Mobile Home Park in October 2015. Since the purchase, the senior residents have been under continual duress. On Tuesday, January 26, 2016, the Santa Clarita City Council voted unanimously (5-0) to implement an urgency ordinance/moratorium to prevent KSFG from converting Sierra Mobile Home Park from a 55+ to a family park, this ordinance applies to all mobile home parks in the City of Santa Clarita. On Tuesday March 8, 2016, the City Council unanimously voted to extend the moratorium until January 25, 2017 at which time it will be reviewed again by City Council.

The seniors have been experiencing a multitude of issues that are prevalent in KSFG mobile home parks. Their billing statements have been incorrect. Their park has been violated by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in December 2015 for not having a manager on site (Health and Safety Code §18603). They've lost services. They have no sense of security, their video cameras were removed when KSFG purchased the park.

We have been informed that Sierra Corporate Management will subject residents to a variety of predatory business practices with the 7 and 14 day notices being one of the primary methods. The seniors are now in a situation where they will be forced to perform maintenance on their homes and lots that many may not be able to afford. This is the first phase of creating financial hardships for the home owners. This first notice is a courtesy notice. The next notice(s) will be 7 and/or 14 day notice(s) to comply with rules and regulations and will be multiple pages, read like a civil lawsuit complaint, and will cause fear and stress amongst many of the residents.

We’ve spoken to the HOA (Senior Homeowners In Trouble) and we are monitoring the situation. We will continue to consult with the residents, they are doing everything they can to abate any mobile home and lot issues that may be considered violations of the existing rules and regulations. Local organizations are being contacted for assistance. The Santa Clarita City Council is being kept aware of the ongoing harassment of the residents by Sierra Corporate Management and its staff.

In response to the “space by space inspections”, the MHPHOA.com are going to provide the residents with instructions on how to inspect their mobile home park common areas and infrastructure. We will assist the residents in submitting mobile home park complaints online to the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) using information from the MPM-PI Violation Booklet, CCR Title 25, 2016 Mobilehome Residency Law (MRL) and other applicable laws.

As a home owner, you should never have to live under these types of predatory conditions. These seniors are being groomed for potential economic eviction. Those who cannot afford to perform the maintenance being requested will be the first to receive 7 or 14 day notices to comply with rules and regulations. The normal minimum cost stated in these notices is usually $300. The most common notice in a KSFG mobile home park is to pull weeds. The cost to the home owner if the weeds are not pulled within the 7 or 14 day notice period is a minimum of $300 for SCM maintenance personnel to pull them for you. This $300 “Reasonable Incidental Service Charge” will appear on your next rent statement. If you dispute the $300 “Reasonable Incidental Service Charge”, you may be told to pay or quit and served with 3/60 notifications.

Sierra Corporate Management 7 and 14 Day Notice Examples

• Sierra Corporate Management – Seven (7) Day Notice
• Sierra Corporate Management – Fourteen (14) Day Notice

Mon, May 16, 2016 – Are you being overcharged for utilities? Is your electric bill more than you think it should be? Are you being overbilled for gas, water and sewage? If you've answered yes to any of the preceding questions, you should file an informal complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) at 800-649-7570. Each mobile home owner who has been affected by utilities overbilling should file a separate informal complaint with the CPUC.

Once you've filed a complaint with the CPUC, it is suggested that you file a complaint with the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for “12. A Utility Bill Issue” which the HCD cannot assist you with, this is an information only exercise for the HCD. This provides an important paper trail that will be required at a later date.

Sat, May 14, 2016 – Since Sierra Corporate Management took ownership of the Corona La Linda Mobile Home Park last summer, monthly rates for incoming residents have jumped more than 40 percent, and current tenants are paying 20 percent more.

The rental spike has prompted more than 500 Corona residents from six mobile home parks – many of whom own their homes, but not the land they sit on – to ask city officials for rent stabilization.

They say an ordinance on mobile home parks would keep landlords from raising prices to evict poor tenants so they can charge new renters exorbitant rates.

But Corona City Council members say imposing a law to restrict what park owners can charge would interfere with free enterprise and could lead to shabbier conditions at the parks.

Fri, May 13, 2016 – For those of you living in a site-built home (real property), is there someone who drives around your neighborhood in a golf cart every month and issues the homeowners 14-Day Notices of Intent to Charge for Home Maintenance? No? How come? You probably don't even know what we're talking about?

This is what happens in California Mobile Home Parks owned by predatory park owners like Kort & Scott Financial Group (KSFG) and managed by Sierra Corporate Management (SCM).

The management minions drive around the mobile home park in a golf cart and stuff homeowner mailtubes with 14-Day Notices to pull weeds. If you don't pull them, they bill you $300.00 on your next rent statement for having the maintenance guy come out in the golf cart and pull them for you. If you the homeowner dispute the $300, you may be told to pay or quit.

Sierra Corporate Management - Fourteen (14) Day Notice
File Type: PDF, Pages: 1, File Size: 25KB – Normally Printed on Standard 20# Bond Colors

Mon, May 9, 2016 – Do you live in a mobile home park owned by Kort & Scott Financial Group (KSFG) and managed by Sierra Corporate Management (SCM)? Are you confused about meeting park management demands? Have you been given official looking notices and papers that aren't clear to you? You DO NOT have to blindly do everything that some park managers and park owners tell you to do. We provide free counseling and advice, we can connect you as needed, with the people that can help you legally and financially.

Sun, May 8, 2016 Updates – Here are 746 names, a small percentage of "human lives", NOT chattel, that have been the victims of Kort & Scott Financial Group (KSFG) DBAs and Sierra Corporate Management (SCM) eviction proceedings in the California Civil Courts.

We've coined a new phrase for the process these individuals have endured for years, we call it being "Evictimized", and refer to the human lives as "Evictims", the victims of being victimized, and evicted from their mobile homes that many paid for in full – they rightfully owned their homes.

Fri, May 6, 2016 – From the 2016 California Mobilehome Residency Law Frequently Asked Questions: Rents, Fees and Taxes, 6. Security Deposit

Resident Question: Can the park charge first and last months’ rent plus a 2-month security deposit?

MRL Answer: Normally, when a mobilehome owner is accepted for residency in a mobilehome park and signs a rental agreement, charging first month’s rent and a 2-month security deposit are permitted. (Civil Code §798.39) After one full year of satisfactory residency (meaning all rent and fees have been paid during that time), the resident is entitled to request a refund of the 2-month security deposit, or may request a refund at the time he or she vacates the park and sells the home. (Civil Code §798.39(b))
2016 California MRL FAQs

Submit your request for a security deposit refund in writing to Sierra Corporate Management today! The MRL specifically states that SCM must refund your deposit after one full year of satisfactory residency. Do not wait until you vacate the park and/or sell your mobile home.

Thu, May 5, 2016 – Helpful tips for California Mobile Home Owners. Do you have ants in your pants? Have you been keeping up with mobile home maintenance? Have you checked for mold or rot? Do you have rodents under your mobile home? Ever experience a sewage spill in your mobile home park?

Argentine Ants Maintenance Mold Rodents Sewage Spill

Sun, May 1, 2016 – On Monday, April 25, 2016 at 6:00 PM, the City of Cypress, California held a City Council Meeting. One of the Agenda items was from Abraham Arrigotti representing Sierra Corporate Management requesting a Conditional Use Permit for Lincoln Center Mobile Home Park to tear down a deteriorating existing site built structure and replace with two (2) mobile homes. The request was unanimously denied 5-0 by City Council which is disappointed with Sierra Corporate Management.

This will be one to watch closely, Lincoln Center Mobile Home Park is KSFG's largest mobile home park (305 spaces) in California, that we are aware of, and the residents are not happy.

2. Public Hearing for a Conditional Use Permit No. C-197
Prepared by: Doug Dancs, Director of Community Development

Recommended Action: That the City Council:

1. Conduct the public hearing on the application to amend Conditional Use Permit No. C-197; and
2. Adopt the Resolution by title only, title as follows, for Denial of Amendment to Conditional Use Permit No. C-197 without prejudice. In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this project is Categorically Exempt.

A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Cypress Conditionally Denying Amendment to Conditional Use Permit No. C-197, Without Prejudice, with Authorization for the Applicant to Return to the City Council within 90 Days with the Requested Documentation Regarding the Adequacy of the Mobile Home Park Infrastructure.
City of Cypress City Council Meeting Agenda – Monday, April 25, 2016

---

City of Cypress – City Council Meeting Notes

1. Councilmembers discussed the fact that Sierra Corporate Management has been asked to submit records from licensed professionals showing the claimed upgrades made to the sewer and electrical systems since 2006. To date nothing has been submitted..
2. Councilmembers discussed the raw sewage spill in October of 2015. Councilmember asked: “Is this the same spill that occurred that no one was able to contact either Sierra Corporate Management or the owners?” Answer: “Yes same spill.” Question: “This is the same spill the city had to clean up?” Answer: “Yes same spill.” Question: “Has Sierra Corporate Management reimbursed the city for the cost of clean up?” Answer: “No they have not to date.” Question: “The city has sent them bills correct?” Answer: “Yes we have sent them billing to that effect.”

3. Opened the floor for residents to speak.

   First speaker is a resident from the mobile home park that stated how many empty lots (6) and homes (17) currently for sale and not selling. She asked that those be dealt with first before any talk of moving in more homes. She asked that the space be used for additional parking as only 5% of the current 305 home owners have access to guest parking.

   Second speaker is a man who lives to the south of the mobile home park in a housing tract. He complained about the number of residents which are using those streets to park on thus taking away parking for their neighborhood. He asked that councilmembers look into making our current parking inside the mobile home park a priority.

   Third speaker is a woman who through tears, told the Councilmembers she and her family are currently renting the building which they wish to tear down. She only found out about the intent of the park to tear down the structure when the sign was posted outside the front entrance. When residents met with Sierra Corporate Management in December of 2015, we were told the intent was to remove the structure due to it having so much termite damage, that it was just not cost effective to repair. If that is the case why would it be considered to be habitable for a family to rent? Furthermore, no homes according to my contract, are to be rented out period. They are to be our primary residence. Why are they exempt from their own rules. That structure is designated as the managers apartment, which we have not had for several years.

4. The floor was then closed to resident comments and Abraham Arrigotti was asked to come forward and speak as the Agenda showed he had responded and would be present. The Mayor called for him to step forward but he nor any counsel was present. Councilmembers waited a few moments then asked to confirm that documents showed he would be present – it was confirmed. They stated they were indeed disappointed he was not there to speak. Motion was unanimously denied.

City of Cypress Agenda Report – Conditional Use Permit No. C-197
File Type: PDF, Pages: 55, File Size: 2.4MB