Assemblyman Fred Thiele today announced that he has introduced legislation to give manufactured homeowners in New York State the right of first refusal when the park in which they reside is put up for sale, regardless of land use changes.

Manufactured homes are a critical source of affordable housing for residents in New York State. The rights of manufactured homeowners who rent space in a New York state mobile home park are covered under Section 233 of the Real Property Law, also known as the "Manufactured Homeowners Bill of Rights.” Provisions of this law address land use changes and the right of first refusal.

Currently, when a mobile park owner decides to sell the park, the requirement of offering a right of first refusal to the homeowners is only invoked in the event that a prospective buyer certifies that there is an intent to change the use in the land once purchased. In this case, the homeowners association or the homeowners themselves, have the right to match any offer that the owner has received to purchase the park.

This new legislation would remove this restrictive provision to give manufactured homeowner’s right of first refusal when the park in which they reside is put up for sale regardless of land use changes. This would afford a fair opportunity to preserve the integrity of their park and protect against any company whose management techniques would contrast with values of the manufactured home community. Enactment of this measure will strengthen the “Manufactured Homeowners Bill of Rights.”

“Tens of thousands of New Yorkers live in mobile and manufactured home parks, including senior citizens, those on fixed incomes, and young families in their first homes,” Assemblyman Thiele stated. “These residents deserve to have a say in what happens to their community, in the event the park owner decides to sell the park, regardless of land use changes. I look forward to working towards the passage of this legislation.”