The New York State Assembly has given final passage to legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Fred Thiele which will give counties home rule authority to prevent rent gouging in manufactured home communities and mobile home parks. The legislation, A.6269/S.4436, passed 115-29.

Thiele stated, “Manufactured and mobile home tenants lack bargaining power because residents own their homes, but not the land, which they rent from the park owner. A substantial number of residents are senior citizens on fixed incomes, who find mobile homes to be one of the few affordable options, if they want to stay on Long Island. This combined with the limited supply of available land to rent, make manufactured homeowners even more susceptible to rent gouging.”

The bill, which has now passed the Assembly four times in the last five years, must now go to the State Senate for consideration.