At their March 21 meeting, Northampton County Council voted 7-2 to endorse a nonbinding resolution supporting a cap on lot fee increases being imposed on the owners of manufactured homes. These are typically located in trailer parks in which residents own the homes, but not the land.
In recent years, corporate developers have been purchasing these trailer parks and doubling or tripling the rents (lot fees). The resolution supports legislation pending in the Senate and House that would restrict landowners from unfettered increases.
Under current law, park owners are already prohibited from imposing more than one rent increase a year. The resolution provides that "creating a cap on yearly land rent increases will help ensure more equitable and affordable housing for Northampton County residents who reside in manufactured home communities."
Council member Jeff Warren proposed this resolution, which was supported by members Lori Vargo Heffner, Ron Heckman, Kelly Keegan Ken Kraft, Jeff Corpora and Tom Giovanni. It was opposed by members John Goffredo and John Brown.
