How to Lease a Mobile Home
Most of the same basic rules of leasing apply to both mobile homes and traditional residential homes. There are, however, a few major differences, and you should be well informed before entering into a mobile home leasing agreement. Rules and regulations will vary according to the laws of the state in which you reside. Not all states have specific mobile home renting laws, so thorough research on your part is imperative.
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Instructions
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Use Internet search engines to locate mobile home parks in your area. Check websites that provide statewide listings of mobile home parks, such as ManufacturedHomeSource.com.
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Schedule a tour of the the mobile home park. Pay attention to how the property is cared for, if the streets and common areas appear to be properly maintained (free from potholes, high grass and trash, etc.).
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Speak with the other mobile home renters in the park when you visit. Inquire about the landlord, the community and how quickly maintenance and repair requests are addressed.
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Speak with the landlord or manager of the mobile home park. Find out how long the park has been there, if he is the original owner or if he recently purchased the park. This will give you a sense of the stability from the mobile home park and decrease the chances of you moving into a park that is in transition, which may result in higher rental rates down the road.
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Discuss all aspects of the rental agreement with the landlord prior to signing a lease.
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Find out the rental rate for the mobile home and if there are any periodic rental increases. Determine when the due date is for rent, if there is a grace period and if there is a penalty or late fee applied after a certain date.
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If paying a security deposit, ask where that money will be placed during the terms of the lease (an escrow account, savings account, etc.). Find out when the security deposit will be returned after you vacate the property, in what form it will be returned and what conditions must be met in order to have it returned.
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Walk through the mobile home that you are renting and do a thorough inspection of both the home and the grounds. Point out and record any pre-existing damages to avoid being held responsible for them when your lease is up. Have the landlord sign an affidavit acknowledging the damage.
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Check your state laws to determine the regulations governing the sale of the mobile home park. Find out if the park owner will be responsible for your relocation expenses and have these provisions included in your lease agreement.
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Obtain a copy of the warranty of habitability from the landlord, which protects the mobile home renter and includes such landlord requirements as keeping the home and surrounding areas safe and clean, keeping common areas clean, providing adequate amounts of clean water, and supplying power and trash removal.
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Check your state laws to determine what is required from you as a tenant in a mobile home park. Depending on the state in which you live, you may be required to keep your own area of the mobile home park clean and arrange for removal of your trash.
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Speak with an attorney about the kind of rental insurance that is required by your state when leasing a mobile home, how to handle problems with the landlord, how to address maintenance requests that are not handled in a timely manner and any other leasing questions that may arise.
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