Mobilehome parks: sale: notice: right of first refusal.
The bill's proponents argue that it empowers residents by ensuring they are informed and can act to maintain their community. By requiring good faith negotiations, the law seeks to prevent park owners from sidelining resident offers in favor of other buyers. This change is expected to impact housing stability in mobilehome communities significantly and enable residents to secure more control over their living environments. The bill aims to prevent situations where owners neglect to inform resident organizations of sales, thereby jeopardizing the residents' housing situation.
Assembly Bill 2539, introduced by Assembly Member Connolly, amends Section 798.80 of the Civil Code concerning mobilehome parks by enhancing the rights of resident organizations in the sale of mobilehome parks. The bill mandates that mobilehome park owners must provide written notice of their intent to sell not less than 120 days and no more than one year before entering into a listing agreement or accepting an offer. This allows residents sufficient time to organize and consider purchasing the property collectively. A significant change is the establishment of a right of first refusal for resident organizations, allowing them six months from receiving notice to make an offer on the park.
Overall, the sentiment surrounding AB 2539 appears to be positive among community organizations and resident advocates. Supporters praise the bill as a necessary step towards fostering community stability and securing residents' rights in the housing market. Nonetheless, some skepticism exists regarding how rigorously park owners will adhere to the good faith negotiation requirement and whether the law will be enforceable enough to prevent misconduct. These concerns reflect broader issues of trust and power dynamics between mobilehome park owners and residents.
Notable points of contention within the discussions surrounding AB 2539 include concerns from park owners regarding potential limitations on their ability to sell properties quickly. Some stakeholders argue that the bill could make it increasingly difficult for owners to engage in sales, potentially leading to broader market consequences. Moreover, questions remain about the adequacy of the proposed timeline for resident organizations to secure the necessary funds and organize their offers. Addressing these concerns will be critical in the debates as the bill progresses through the legislative process.