The Manufactured Home Park Protection Act seeks to enhance the rights of resident homeowners in private residential leasehold communities (PRLCs) by providing them with a greater opportunity to purchase the land on which their homes are located. The bill introduces new definitions for "resident homeowner," "resident homeowner group," and "landowner," clarifying the roles of stakeholders in the purchasing process. It requires landowners to notify the Department of Community Affairs, local officials, and resident homeowners when the land is for sale or when a bona fide offer is received. Additionally, the bill establishes a framework for resident homeowner groups to organize and negotiate the purchase, necessitating consent from at least 51% of homeowners. The time frame for executing a purchase contract is extended from 45 to 120 days, allowing for more thorough consideration.

Significant changes include the repeal of sections 6 through 9 of P.L.1991, c.483, which previously governed the formation of homeowner associations, and the introduction of a more community-oriented approach that empowers resident homeowners directly. The bill also mandates that landowners provide notice to various stakeholders regarding offers to sell the community land and introduces legal recourse for homeowners or the Attorney General to enforce compliance, categorizing violations as unlawful practices under the New Jersey consumer fraud act. Furthermore, it exempts the sale of a PRLC to a resident homeowner group from certain provisions of the Planned Real Estate Development Full Disclosure Act, facilitating the transfer process and promoting affordable housing stability within manufactured home parks.

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