I am writing to you today with a profound sense of urgency regarding the unsustainable and devastating increases in lot rents within manufactured home communities, specifically highlighting the dire situation unfolding at Normandy Village and similar parks. This issue is rapidly creating a housing crisis for many of our community’s most vulnerable residents.
For instance, at Normandy Village, residents have experienced an alarming escalation in lot fees. Just three years ago, the original owner raised the rent from $150 to $225 However, following its sale to Housing Hub in January 2026, we were notified of a further dramatic increase, setting the new monthly rent at $375.00 starting this June. This represents an increase of 67% in just a few short years, with a 40% jump under the new ownership alone. This pattern is not isolated; communities like Western Estates are experiencing similar pressures, with lot rents now reportedly reaching as high as $675.
These exorbitant increases disproportionately impact residents who chose manufactured homes as an affordable pathway to homeownership when traditional housing was out of reach. Many families, like my step-daughter, a single mother supporting four others, or my step-son, whose medical challenges hinder his ability to maintain steady employment, are now facing impossible choices. Such drastic financial burdens jeopardize their ability to cover other essential living expenses, including utilities, food, and healthcare, threatening their very stability and security. It is a shared story of struggle across these communities, predominantly affecting lower-income families who believed they had found a permanent home.
The justification for such steep increases is unclear, especially when compared to the rental market for apartments. Typical apartment rent adjustments range from 3% to 5% annually, largely mirroring average income growth. Moreover, apartment complexes generally cover a wide array of operational costs, including property taxes, building insurance, comprehensive maintenance, landscaping, and appliance replacement. In stark contrast, manufactured home park owners typically bear far fewer responsibilities, primarily limited to land taxes and basic road maintenance, while residents are solely responsible for the upkeep, insurance, and taxes on their homes.
The disparity is stark: why should residents of manufactured home parks face increases of 40% or even 67% for the land beneath their homes, when apartment renters benefit from more modest adjustments alongside far more extensive services? These substantial rent hikes are not merely adjustments; they are, for many, an existential threat to their ability to remain in their homes and communities.
We implore you to consider the severe implications of these predatory practices on the financial well-being and stability of countless families.
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