California MHP News

Wed, Jun 26, 2019 – SACRAMENTO – Earlier today, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) approved an audit request by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) to review the efficacy and ongoing issues related to the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s (HCD) Mobilehome Inspection Program.

As the Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Manufactured Home Communities, Senator Leyva continues to hear from mobilehome residents and owners about the insufficient oversight and follow-up by HCD that allows some mobilehome parks to fall into severe disrepair, as well as risk the public health and eventually the housing options of their residents. In recent years, HCD has identified inadequate gas meters, accumulation of combustible materials and exposed live electrical parts at mobilehome parks. Media reports also identified a mobilehome park in Northern California with poor infrastructure that was without power for several days during an extreme heat wave in 2018 that endangered the health and safety of elderly residents.

While I appreciate the important work that HCD does to protect the health and safety of mobilehome parks and their residents, there is clearly still much work to do to meet the needs of mobilehome residents across our state,” Senator Leyva said. “Mobilehomes provide a critical option for affordable housing in California, so it is important that we do all that we can to make sure that the state is inspecting mobilehome parks fully and properly so that we can keep residents healthy and safe. There is no excuse for mobilehome residents to ever have to live with exposed electrical parts or without power for days because of poor infrastructure so, depending on the results of the audit, we will likely need to find a way for the state to have better and likely more frequent oversight of these parks. I thank my JLAC colleagues for approving this important audit that will ultimately help to improve living conditions at mobilehome parks and the quality of life and safety of their residents.

The independent audit will include an assessment of HCD’s statewide mobilehome park inspection process and efforts, as well as review and evaluate follow-up visits made to parks by inspectors to ensure compliance. With nearly 5,000 mobilehome parks and 2 million mobilehome residents in California, the Mobilehome Park Maintenance (MPM) Inspection Program is crucial in maintaining the quality of life for these residents.

The California State Auditor will conduct the audit over the next several months and issue a public report once the analysis is completed.

Mon, Jun 24, 2019 SACRAMENTO – This Wednesday at 10 AM, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee will be considering a request by Senator Connie Leyva to audit the Housing and Community Development Department's division of code and standards. The focus of the audit request is the Mobilehome Park Maintenance Inspection Program.

Sat, Jun 22, 2019 – Many residents of Rancho La Paz mobile home park joined a larger protest in front of Anaheim City Hall on June 18 to ask for rent stabilization and a more sound housing policy. That night, Council ultimately voted down a temporary rent hike moratorium proposed by councilmember Jose F. Moreno.

Hundreds of the protesters packed into the Anaheim City Council chambers as the meeting began. The council meeting lasted over 10 hours, with over 100 members of the public speaking.

Council member Moreno made a motion to approve a temporary (six month) rent gouging moratorium. It would allow rents to increase no more than 5% plus the consumer price index, with a max of 10%.

Ultimately, the motion failed 2-5, with Barnes and Moreno being the only “yes” votes.

The question of what to do regarding Rancho La Paz will be discussed at the July 2 Fullerton City Council meeting.

Previous News

1. 2019-06-18 – Rancho La Paz Residents Ask Council For Help
2. 2019-04-18 – What’s Happening at Rancho La Paz is Part of a National Trend
3. 2019-04-07 – Rancho La Paz Mobile Home Park Residents Meet with Park’s Owner
4. 2019-04-04 – Anaheim and Fullerton Mobile Home Residents Remain Uncertain About Rents
5. 2019-04-02 – Anaheim and Fullerton Consider Options for Potential Rent Caps at Mobile Home Parks
6. 2019-03-27 – Anaheim Mobile Home Park Owner Rescinds Rent Increases
7. 2019-03-27 – Owner Pulls Back on Rent Increases for Mobile Home Park
8. 2019-03-27 – MHP Owner Delays Rent Increase on Seniors after Meeting with Anaheim Leaders
9. 2019-03-21 – Rancho La Paz Residents Organize and Ask Elected Officials for Help
10. 2019-03-21 – Rent Hike May Force Many in OC Retirement Community From Their Homes
11. 2019-03-21 – Proposed $400 a Month Rent Increase has Seniors in Anaheim Nervous
12. 2019-03-10 – Rancho La Paz MHP – Seniors Facing Drastic Rent Increases of 44%

Thu, Jun 13, 2019 – Two Antioch senior mobile home parks will remain that way after the City Council this week unanimously agreed to prevent them from converting into all-ages parks.

Though some fixed-income residents have been concerned about the number of children moving into parks where there are no playgrounds or services, many more have feared rents would raise even higher with an increase in the number of younger working families locating in them. In 2017, acting on requests from residents, the city twice enacted urgency moratoriums on all senior mobile home parks — those with at least 80 percent or more for ages 55 or older — from being opened up to all ages.

Lola Buck of Vista Diablo reminded the council that seniors at her park have been raising concerns since 2007. The owners, Kort & Scott Financial Group, faced with the threat of litigation by the city, signed a 10-year agreement to maintain the mobile home park as a mostly seniors community. That contract expired in 2017, prompting residents back then to bring their concerns to City Hall and urging a moratorium on conversions from senior to all-ages parks.

The ordinance would create a senior housing overlay district to prohibit the conversion of all Antioch senior mobile home parks with 80 percent or more seniors to all-ages mobile home parks. While in favor of the move, Councilman Lamar Thorpe said he wanted to see rental control for senior housing as well.

Vista Diablo Mobile Estates

• Address: 2901 Somersville Road, Antioch, California 94509
• County: Contra Costa
• Phone: 925-757-9321
• Spaces: 150
• Type: 55+
• 2019 Space Rent: $1,300
• Purchased: Nov 1995, Amount: $4,500,000
• Refinanced 1: Nov 1998, Amount: $5,415,000
• Refinanced 2: Jan 2005, Amount: $9,000,000
• Refinanced 3: Jan 2007, Amount: $11,750,000
• Refinanced 4: Jun 2016, Amount: $16,000,000
  Loan Type: Fannie Mae SARM, Chad Thomas Hagwood
• Management: Sierra Corporate Management
• DBA: Vista Diablo GP LLC, Vista Diablo Mobile Estates LLC, Vista Diablo Mobile Estates LP
• DBA Filing: Sep 1995, Jan 2005

Thu, Jun 6, 2019 – In May 2019, the MHPHOA performed a space rent survey for the 21 mobile home parks in Carson, California. The average space rent is $380 per month with the lowest at $143 (Ray Mar Trailer Park) and the highest at $702 per month (Carson Harbor Village).

The City of Carson has one of the most successful Rent Stabilization Ordinances in the State of California. Kort & Scott Financial Group own two mobile home parks in Carson; Carson Gardens Trailer Lodge ($472) and Laco Mobile Home Park ($431).

• Carson Municipal Code – Chapter 7 – Mobilehome Space Rent Control

Tue, Jun 4, 2019 – Sources have informed the MHPHOA that Tustin Village Mobile Home Park is now under new management. There is a notice posted on the park management office door from Ryan Kennedy of Bessire and Casenhiser Inc indicating the change in management.

The MHPHOA are currently awaiting change in management confirmation for: Blue Star Mobile Home Park, Reseda Mobile Homes and Tri Palm Estates (Country Club Only).

Tustin Village Mobile Home Park

• Address: 15352 Williams Street, Tustin, California 92780
• County: Orange
• Phone: 714-542-0637
• Spaces: 192, Apartments: 2
• Type: All Ages (Previously 55+ Circa 2005)
• 2019 Space Rent: $1,950
• Purchased: Jan 2005, Amount: $4,500,000, Leasehold Rights Only
• New Management (Jun 1, 2019): Bessire and Casenhiser Inc
• Management: Sierra Corporate Management
• DBA: Tustin Village GP LLC, Tustin Village MHP Associates LP
  NorPlum LP (Ground Lease Holder)
• DBA Filing: Dec 2004, Dec 2008

Fri, May 31, 2019 – Letter to Knolls Lodge Mobile Home Park Residents: Please be advised that effective June 1, 2019, Bessire & Casenhiser, Inc. assumed the direct management control of Knolls Lodge. Note: There has been no change in ownership.
Bessire and Casenhiser Letter

Note: The MHPHOA have been informed that some mobile home parks owned by Kort & Scott Financial Group and currently managed by Sierra Corporate Management may soon change management to Bessire and Casenhiser, Inc. We are awaiting resident confirmation from the other parks and will post updates when they become available.

Previous News

1. 2018-03-16 – Kort & Scott DBAs Being Sued by Residents of Knolls Lodge MHP (Updates)
2. 2018-01-16 – Kort & Scott DBAs Being Sued by Residents of Knolls Lodge MHP
3. 2017-03-24 – Knolls Lodge Mobile Home/RV Park
4. 2017-03-04 – Knolls Lodge Mobile Home Park – No Guest Parking After 5:00 PM
5. 2017-02-13 – Knolls Lodge Mobile Home Park – 27% Turnover Since Jan 2015
6. 2016-03-15 – $750 Home for Sale – Knolls Lodge Mobile Home Park

Knolls Lodge Mobile Home Park

• Address: 23701 South Western Avenue, Torrance, California 90501
• County: Los Angeles
• Phone: 310-326-1000
• Spaces: 257
• Type: All Ages
• 2019 Space Rent: $1,500
• Refinanced: Jun 2005, Amount: $94,700,000, 4/6 MHP Package
  Loan Type: Fannie Mae FRM, Chad Thomas Hagwood
• Refinanced: Dec 2013, Amount: $158,000,000, 4/8 MHP Package
  Loan Type: Fannie Mae FRM, Chad Thomas Hagwood
• New Management (Jun 1, 2019): Bessire and Casenhiser Inc
• Management: Sierra Corporate Management
• DBA: Knolls Lodge GP Corp, Knolls Lodge LP
• DBA Filing: Jan 2002, Oct 2002