The Manufactured Home Park Protection Act seeks to enhance the rights and purchasing opportunities for resident homeowners in manufactured home parks, specifically private residential leasehold communities (PRLCs). Key amendments include clarifying definitions for terms such as "Department," "landowner," and "resident homeowner," and establishing that a PRLC must have at least 10 home sites under common ownership. The bill mandates that landowners notify stakeholders, including the Department of Community Affairs and resident homeowners, when a PRLC is for sale, detailing the sale's price and terms. It allows resident homeowners, with at least 51% consent, to purchase the land within a 120-day period, while also ensuring they are informed of any other offers made on the property.

Furthermore, the legislation empowers resident homeowner groups to negotiate purchase terms and execute contracts, with provisions for financing that include a refundable earnest money requirement of up to $50,000. It also allows these groups to assign their rights to municipalities or nonprofit organizations to maintain the property as a manufactured home community. The bill introduces legal recourse for homeowners and the Attorney General to enforce compliance, categorizing violations as unlawful practices under the New Jersey consumer fraud act. Additionally, it repeals certain sections of existing law regarding the formation of associations for unit owners, replacing them with streamlined provisions for resident homeowners or homeowner groups.

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