The Manufactured Home Park Protection Act is designed to enhance the purchasing opportunities for resident homeowners in manufactured home parks, also known as private residential leasehold communities (PRLCs). The bill introduces new definitions to clarify the roles of various stakeholders, including "Department," "Family member," "Landowner," "Resident homeowner," and "Resident homeowner group." It establishes that a PRLC must have at least 10 home sites under common ownership and control, and outlines the services that landowners are required to provide, which are typically offered by municipalities. Key amendments include a requirement for landowners to notify the Department of Community Affairs and resident homeowners when the land is for sale or when a bona fide offer is received, and it grants resident homeowners the right to purchase the land if 51 percent consent within a specified timeframe.

Furthermore, the bill allows resident homeowner groups to assign their rights to municipalities or nonprofit organizations to maintain the property as a manufactured home community. It introduces legal recourse for homeowners or the Attorney General to enforce compliance, categorizing violations as unlawful practices under the New Jersey consumer fraud act. The bill also repeals certain sections of existing law regarding the formation of associations for unit owners, replacing them with provisions tailored for resident homeowners or homeowner groups, thereby streamlining the process for community purchase and management.

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