FAQ’s Answered

Q: Is the new park management allowed to change rules on long-time residents or are these residents “grandfathered-in” under the old rules?

A. Existing residents are not exempt from park rule changes. According to the MRL, the park can change a park rule and regulation as it applies to existing residents, after giving residents six-month’s notice of the change, or a 60-day notice if it involves changes in rules relating to the park’s recreational facilities within the clubhouse. The management must meet with park residents, at the residents requests, but are not required to accept the residents’ suggestions or requests regarding the rules.

 

Q: Can the park prevent residents from subleasing their mobilehome?

A. Yes. Most mobilehome parks have rules that prohibit homeowners from subleasing their mobilehomes, even in hardship cases. However, in cases of seniors who require medical convalescence away from their homes, they may sublet for up to one year.

 

Q: Can the park manager reduce or eliminate park services and amenities that residents have been paying for for years?

A. Yes, as long as the services or amenities are not guaranteed in a signed rental or lease agreement. If however, the services and amenities are part of the signed lease or rental agreement, they may be eliminated with equal reduction in rent.

 

Q: Is the resident for the park owner responsible for correcting pre-existing code violations on their space?

A. The homeowner is primarily responsible for correcting any violations concerning the home or space on which he/she resides, including any pre-existing code violations after the sale of a home.

8 Ways to Stay Cool while Saving Money This Summer

1. Consider a Fan instead of the AC during peak hours.

Yes it is true that a Fan uses electricity too but it uses about 1/10th of the electricity that your Air Conditioner uses. That could save you up to $100 a month.

2. Create a cross current

By opening windows in your home that are across from one another you will create a wind tunnel effect that, along with your fan, will help keep you cool.

 3. Keep a spray bottle in the refrigerator and sprits yourself throughout the day.

As the cool water evaporates off your skin your body will cool down. Concentrate the sprays on your wrists and the back of your neck.

 4. Program your Thermostat.

Most people think the best way to save is to turn the AC on and off as the house heats and cools. In reality this makes your unit run double time. Set your thermostat at 76 while you are home and 85 when you are away. This allows your AC to work in short bursts keeping the run time and cost down.

 5. Draw the Blinds during the day/when you are not home.

It is a small thing that can make a huge difference. You notice that it is always cooler in the shade. By drawing your blinds you are preventing the sun from heating up your home. Believe it or not lighter shades work better as the darker shades draw in and retain the heat from the sun.

 6. Cook outside.

When people think of summer BBQ’s immediately come to mind. Take advantage of the nice weather and cook outside. This will keep the heat outside where it belongs.

 7. Check your seals.

Make sure not to let cool air escape. Many older homes have leaky windows and doors, you don’t need to spend tons of money replacing them try a fresh coat of caulking around your windows and some new weather stripping around the doors. You will notice a difference in the temperature of your house fairly quickly.

8. Cool down your showers.

When you take a warm/hot shower you are raising your body temperature to the point that when you get out of the shower you still feel warm. By changing the temperature of your shower you are changing the temperature of your body. It’s a great way to stay cool and sweat less.

 

Help Protect you and your Family from Home Invasion

The idea of home invasion is scary. Here are a few tips and tricks on how to prevent, and keep yourself safe in a home invasion situation.

1. Plant Thorny Bushes around the windows.

These are not only visual deterrents, no one wants to climb through bushes that can cause them physical harm, they can also collect DNA from the invader which can be used to track him down.

2. Keep the outside of your house well lit.

Home invaders do not want to be seen. If the exterior of your home is well lit they cannot make it inside with out being caught by the light.

3. Hang a bell on the door.

This will signal you if someone is entering your home.

4. Designate a room in the house as a Safe Room.

Make sure everyone in your house knows where to go if someone were to break in. This room should have a land line phone, a flashlight, and something that could be used to defend yourself i.e. Baseball bat. Mount the doors to this room so that they swing out; they are harder to breach than those that swing in.

5. Keep pepper spray or even bug spray by your bed.

This will allow you to defend yourself quickly by taking away the intruders ability to see.

These are just a few things that you can do. Remember to always call 911 if an intruder is attempting to enter your home.

One Can Never Be Too Prepared

It is important for everyone to be prepared for a disaster but it is particularly important for seniors. Many seniors live alone. If this is the case you need to add an extra step to your disaster planning and establish a personal support network. This is a group of individuals that agree to check on one another should a disaster strike.

There are seven things that you must discuss and implement with your network in order to be prepared:

  1. Make arrangements for your support network to immediately check on you after a disaster and, if needed, offer assistance.
  2. Exchange keys they may need to enter your home incase you are incapacitated and unable to let them in.
  3. Show them where you keep all emergency supplies in your home.
  4. Make and keep copies of your relevant emergency documents and make sure your network knows where these are located.
  5. Agree on methods other than phones to contact one another in an emergency. Phone lines and Internet could be down.
  6. Always notify one another when you are out of town. This will help them if a disaster strikes to know where you are.
  7. Know that the relationship is mutual and you are all responsible for one another.

Aside from your support network the American Red Cross advises everyone to Store these items in easy to carry containers near the exit of your home.

-Three-day supply of food (non-perishable, canned or boxed)

– Manual can opener

-Three-day supply of water (They recommend 1 gallon per person per day)

– Flashlight and extra batteries

– First aid kit

– Hand sanitizer, moist towelettes, toilet paper and other hygiene items

– Matches in a waterproof container

– Whistle (for communication: 1 blow for “Yes”, 2 for “ No”, and 3 for “Help”)

– Extra cloths and blankets

-Photocopies of identification cards and other important documents

– Cash and Coins

– Medical Supplies

– Garbage bags and duct tape

– Tools

– Pet supplies (if you have one)

They recommend that you update your kit once a year and as your needs change. Water needs to be replaced every 6 months.

Resident FAQ’s

 

Q: Can the park owner require a deposit or fee for use of the clubhouse by the homeowners association?

A.  No, however there are a few exceptions. They can not require a deposit or liability insurance if the residents are holding meetings for a lawful purpose at reasonable times when the facility is not otherwise in use. However the park may require liability insurance if alcohol is being served. A deposit may be charged if a homeowner wishes to reserve the clubhouse for a private function to which all park residents are not invited.

 

Q: How can a resident get their taxes reduced?

A. You may file an appeal with the county assessment appeals board to see if they can get their AV*, and thus their taxes, reduced. The burden of producing evidence that the home is worth less than the assessor’s valuation falls on the homeowner.

*AV is the Assessed Value of the home. Property taxes are 1% of the AV plus any local bonded debt.

 

Q: Can the park end a resident’s tenancy by refusing to enter into a new rental agreement?

A. No, not if the resident is a homeowner, unless they have not paid rent or have violated park rules and regulations. If the resident is a tenant who rents a park-owned mobilehome, the park can terminate the tenancy without a reason with a 30-day notice.