The Manufactured Home Park Protection Act seeks to enhance the rights of resident homeowners in private residential leasehold communities by facilitating their ability to purchase the land on which their homes are located. The bill introduces new definitions, such as "Department," "Family member," "Landowner," "Resident homeowner," and "Resident homeowner group," to clarify the roles within these communities. It modifies the notification process for landowners intending to sell their property, requiring them to inform not only municipal authorities but also each resident homeowner and relevant nonprofit organizations focused on affordable housing. Additionally, the bill allows resident homeowners to initiate the purchase process with the consent of a simple majority (51 percent) rather than the previous two-thirds requirement, and mandates that landowners provide detailed sale information and wait for a designated response period before finalizing any sale.

Furthermore, the bill allows resident homeowner groups to assign their purchasing rights to municipalities or nonprofit organizations to maintain the property as a manufactured home community. It introduces legal enforcement provisions, enabling residents or the Attorney General to take action against violations, classifying such violations as unlawful practices under New Jersey's consumer fraud act. The bill also proposes the repeal of certain sections of existing law related to homeowner associations, replacing them with a focus on "resident homeowners" or "resident homeowner groups" to promote a more community-oriented governance model. This shift aims to empower individual homeowners and groups in negotiating and purchasing their communities, thereby protecting their interests and ensuring the continued availability of affordable housing.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 46:8C-10, 46:8C-11, 46:8C-12, 46:8C-13, 46:8C-14, 45:22A-25