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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
private
universities; Arizona teachers academy
(NOW: mobile home; relocation; building codes)
Purpose
An emergency measure that increases maximum payment amounts that a tenant may collect from the Mobile Home Relocation Fund (Fund) for relocating a mobile home due to a rent increase or a change in age-restricted community use.
Background
The Arizona Mobile Home Parks Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Act) is established to: 1) simplify, clarify and establish the law governing the rental of mobile home spaces and rights and obligations of landlords and tenants; and 2) encourage landlords and tenants to maintain and improve the quality of mobile home housing. The Act regulates and determines rights, obligations and remedies under a rental agreement for a mobile home space in a mobile home park located in Arizona (A.R.S. §§ 33-1402 and 33-1406).
The Fund is administered by the Director of the Arizona Department of Housing (Director) and consists of monies collected from assessments on mobile homes and park trailer or park model RVs and surcharges on civil penalties for park managers' noncompliance with educational program requirements. Fund monies may be used for the relocation of a mobile home due to a rent increase of 10 percent plus the current increase in the Consumer Price Index or a change in age-restricted community use. A tenant is eligible to receive relocation expenses if outlined requirements are met, including a requirement that the tenant must have a fully signed contract with a licensed installer or contractor to move the mobile home to a specific location by a specific date and must have moved the mobile home within 45 days after the effective date of the rent increase or after notice of Fund payment approval by the Director.
Currently, a tenant is eligible for the lesser of the actual moving expenses of relocating the mobile home or $7,500 for a single-section mobile home or $12,500 for a multisection mobile home. As an alternative to receiving payment to relocate a mobile home due to a rent increase, an eligible tenant may abandon the mobile home in the mobile home park and collect an amount equal to 25 percent of the maximum allowable moving expense for that mobile home from the Fund. The tenant must deliver the title to the mobile home park landlord with proof that all liens and taxes are released or paid (A.R.S. §§ 33-1476.02; 33-1476.03; and 33-1476.05).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Increases the maximum payment amount that a tenant may collect from the Fund for relocating a mobile home to a new location due to a rent increase or change in age-restricted community use from:
a) $7,500 to $12,500, for a single section mobile home; and
b) $12,500 to $20,000, for a multisection mobile home.
2. Increases, from 25 percent to 40 percent, the maximum allowable percentage of moving expenses that a tenant may collect from the Fund for a mobile home if the tenant is relocating due a rent increase and the tenant abandons the mobile home in the mobile home park.
3. Removes the requirement to specify a moving date in the relocation contract and removes the 45-day time period within which a tenant must relocate the mobile home.
4. Becomes effective on signature of the Governor, if the emergency clause is enacted.
House Action
COM 2/6/24 DPA/SE 6-3-0-1
3rd Read 19-41-0
3rd Read* 3/12/24 44-12-4
*On reconsideration
Prepared by Senate Research
March 14, 2024
MG/cs