ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In
2007 we celebrated thirty years of service to those of us who own our homes and
rent or lease the land on which our homes are sited. Over that time our
association has managed to gain, through the legislative process, many rights
that protect manufactured home park residents. All the efforts to affect
the legislative process are supported by our members through their membership
dues. Everyone who lives in a manufactured home park, not just our
members, benefits from our efforts.
Your Rights
Since Manufactured Home Owners of Oregon was organized in 1977 we have fought
long and hard for the interests of manufactured home park residents.
Virtually all the rights we have under Oregon Revised Statutes Title 10 Chapter
90, Oregon's landlord tenant law have our organization's "fingerprints" all over
them.
As
you can imagine legislative advocacy lobbying and all of the other services we
provide costs money. Currently, only our members with their dues fund
these efforts. It is imperative that OSTA continue to be a voice for
manufactured home park residents. So join our association in your own best
interest to protect your home and your chosen life style.
You Have the Right To:
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Form a residents' association
without management interference or fear of retaliation. |
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To allow residents to assemble
among themselves without park management or employees in attendance. |
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Have park managers who are
trained in the Oregon landlord / tenant statutes regarding the relationship
between park management and the residents. |
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Be free of retaliation by the
landlord if you make a legitimate complaint. |
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No longer be charged "pet rent"
or pay additional "fees" for having a pet. |
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Have a copy of the rental
agreement you signed and the park rules and the statement of park policy. |
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Be given a written notice of
any violation of park rules or policy of which you may be accused. |
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Have a prospective buyer of
your home accepted or rejected within seven days after park management has
received a completed rental application. |
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Not be forced to sign a new
rental agreement if you are currently on a month-to-month agreement. |
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Have clubhouse and other
facilities open for use from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. |
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Expect the park to be
maintained in a safe and healthy condition. |
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Not be forced to provide
liability insurance to be able to use the clubhouse. |
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To have a community-wide,
elected, committee to meet with the landlord or park manager to work out
landlord / tenant problems. This is better known as the Committee of
Seven. |
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No longer pay additional fees
or handling charges when park management sub-meters the water or any other
utility bill. Only direct costs may be passed through. |
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Be given 24 hours written
notice before the landlord or park manager enters your space, unless there is
an emergency such as a broken water pipe or a fire! |
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To be given one month's free
rent if the landlord or manager comes on your space without the proper notice. |
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Have protection from eviction
except for non-payment of rent or utilities, illegal activities on the
premises or repeated and flagrant violations of the park rules. |
|
Reject new park rules with a
petition signed by one person in at least 51% of the homes affected by the new
rules. |
Through Our Efforts
Sometimes it takes
more effort to defend rights we have than to get new legislation passed.
Below are just two cases where we stopped landlord from eroding protections
already gained.
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Landlords cannot
force residents to "update" their homes by installing materials and/or
modifying plumbing or electrical system to a code later than the date the
homes was manufactured.
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Landlords cannot
hand out new rental agreements, if no existing copy can be found, which would
become enforceable with or without the resident's signature.
What You Get
The OSTA
Review, our quarterly magazine which provides memebers with timely
information on many areas that affect our chosen life-style.
Officers and
Directors who have the experience in solving many of the problems faced
in parks today.
An OSTA Board
that works with other non-profit organizations and governmental agencies that
can help you.
An Executive
Director who represents park residents working year round to increase
the visibility of resident issues and promotes legislation to benefit all who
lin in manufactured home parks.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
WWW.MHOO-OSTA.ORG
Call our office in Salem at
(503) 393-7737 or (800) 423-9371
We can assist you in organizing the residents in your park to form a home owners
association.
