Florida’s manufactured home residents are facing a growing crisis as lot rents skyrocket, pushing many out of the homes they own. This trend disproportionately affects retirees, veterans, and individuals on fixed incomes, who rely on these communities for affordable housing. Many are forced to take on extra work or face eviction.
The Soaring Cost of Lot Rent
Lot rents in Florida’s manufactured home parks have seen a dramatic increase, nearly doubling between 2015 and 2023. This surge outpaces the rise in single-family home rents in some areas. Residents, who own their homes but rent the land, are struggling to keep up with these escalating costs. For many, especially those on fixed incomes like Social Security, even modest increases of $100-$200 per month can be insurmountable.
- Median lot rent has nearly doubled statewide from 2015 to 2023.
- Lot rent increases have outpaced single-family home rent increases in some metro areas.
Pass-Through Fees and Declining Services
Adding to the financial strain, park management can pass on additional fees for services not included in the base rent, such as utilities or property taxes. However, residents report that these fees often come without a corresponding improvement in park services. Instead, many communities suffer from neglect, with issues like poor road maintenance, flooding, and non-functional amenities like swimming pools.
The Rise of Corporate Ownership
A significant factor contributing to these affordability issues is the increasing ownership of manufactured home parks by private equity firms. These large corporations often implement aggressive rent increase strategies, viewing the parks as "cash cows." This shift from smaller, "mom and pop" owners to large corporate entities has been linked to worse resident experiences and more aggressive eviction tactics. When residents are forced to sell their homes due to rising rents, they often receive only a fraction of their value or must hand the home over to the corporate owner.
Facing Eviction and Uncertainty
Many residents are caught in a difficult position, with options limited to paying the increased rent, attempting to sell their homes at a loss, or facing eviction. The cost and complexity of moving a manufactured home can be prohibitive, often ranging from $3,500 to $18,000. This leaves many feeling trapped, questioning their decision to purchase a home in these communities and fearing for their housing security.
Legislative Efforts and Resident Advocacy
While some legislative efforts have been made, such as a bill allowing for mediation of rent disputes, they have not fully addressed the core problem. Proposals for lot rent caps or assistance programs have faced challenges in passing. Residents are increasingly advocating for stronger regulations to protect them from steep rent hikes and neglect by corporate landlords, seeking solutions that ensure the continued affordability of manufactured home communities.
Sources
- How Florida’s manufactured home parks are growing unaffordable, WUSF.
- Rising lot rents squeeze Florida mobile home park residents, report says, Axios.
- Florida residents in manufactured home parks face steep rent hikes, neglect by corporate landlords, News4JAX.
- Mobile home residents in Central Florida face eviction risks as lot rents surge, WKMG.