Question: What good is the MRL if there is no enforcement and residents have to go to court to protect themselves?
Background:
This issue, more than any other, caused residents to hang up the phone mad at me. Telling residents that they had to take their dispute to the courts was no help at all, making callers furious and extremely frustrated. It made no sense to residents that they should call the state capitol simply to get turned away. I had to explain that my role was limited to staffing legislation and advising senators and staff on the MRL. Unfortunately this caused more anger and the predictable rebuke, “Then what DO you do if you can’t help me?” I was never offended by their frustration because I understood. It only made clear the need for a program that would close the gap between the law and access to justice.
As a result of residents’ requests for legal assistance, I added the Community Resources section to the annual MRL Handbook, which lists county court services. This listing was still not sufficient – and I knew it. Residents needed an advocate who would accept their case and guide them through the legal process, just like a social services agency would guide an individual through the complex process of applying for and receiving health care, food or housing.
Answer: The MRL – the landlord-tenant law for mobilehome parks -- is part of the Civil Code. The enforcement mechanism is through the civil courts, not law enforcement or another government agency. The courts are a branch of government responsible for, among other aspects, resolving or ruling on civil disputes. The good news is: with the enactment of AB 3066 (2018), GSMOL and HCD will join as partners in developing a referral program that will bring residents complaining of MRL violations together with local non-profit legal advocates. This is known as the Mobilehome Residency Law Protection Program. Homeowners will be able to begin filing complaints in July, 2020. GSMOL and GSMOEF (Education Fund) will be communicating with homeowners with more information.
--Stephanie Reid, formerly on staff with the Senate Select Committee on Manufactured Homes and Communities, updated by Anne Anderson, website editor and GSMOEF Board Member
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