Oregon’s House Bill Shields Manufactured and Floating Home Residents from Soaring Rent Hikes

Oregonians living in manufactured park homes and moored homes on marinas will receive protection from rental increases if House Bill 3054 is passed by the Senate.

Oregon Has 3,500 Park Homes and 1,500 Floating Home Residents

Last year, about 3,500 people were living in manufactured home parks. This figure includes the 28 Resident-Owned Communities (ROCs) that house about 1,920 households.

It is estimated that there are 1,500 floating homes in Oregon, half of which are in rental moorages. Portland has the largest population of houseboat residents, with over 50 communities and 1,000-plus floating homes.

Many Oregonians own their park or floating homes but they must pay rental for the space their units occupy.

The Bill Restricts Rent Increases to 6% in Parks and Marinas With More Than 30 Spaces

On Wednesday, lawmakers advanced the bill to restrict annual rental increases to 6% in parks and marinas with more than 30 spaces. Existing rent control laws which limit annual increases to 7% plus inflation to 10%, whichever is the least, will remain unchanged in smaller parks and marinas.

Representative Pam Marsh, D-Ashland, the sponsor of HB 3054, told the House on Wednesday that the long-term stability of park and floating homes was being eroded by surging increases in rentals, outstripping the ability of many residents to meet demands.

Marsh said rental increases threatened to undermine the lifelong security that was intended by owners when they purchased their homes.

Republicans Believe Rent Control Frightens Investors

While both sides of the House agree that Oregon needs to provide more homes to meet an ever-increasing shortage, Republicans believe that rent control frightens prospective investors, while Democrats believe in rent control to stabilize the market.

HB 3054 stipulates that landlords with more than 30 spaces for park or floating homes can increase rentals to as much as 12% in one year, once every five years, for maintenance and other costs. This, however, must be approved by a majority of homeowners.