Question:
“I am considering selling my lot space in the park, but I’ve heard that homeowners have to remove their houses if they’re too old. Is this true?”
-Rain B. (46), homeowner, Little Rock, AR
Answer:
It’s true that some parks will require homeowners to remove their home structures selling their lot spaces. However, this is not because the home is simply “too old.”
The reasons park management would determine that an old home must be vacated from the park would have to do with the actual condition of the house. If a home does not meet the health and safety standards of the park, or is in general disrepair, then the park may require the homeowners to remove the house once the lot is sold.
Likewise, if a home meets all health and safety standards and is in satisfactory condition (and is conjunctly sold along with the lot), then the park cannot force a resident to remove the structure, regardless of the house’s age.
This evaluation is performed by park management, and if there is a disagreement between homeowners and the park regarding the state of the structure, the homeowner may hire a home inspector to conduct a separate evaluation. These are usually private inspectors, though some local government agencies may have inspectors that perform similar assessments.
If the inspector determines that the home does not meet health and safety standards, then the homeowner is entitled to make the necessary repairs to bring the home up to code.
Overview:
- The park may require homeowners to remove a structure if it fails health and safety standards or is in disrepair.
- The park cannot force homeowners to remove a structure solely because of its age.
- Homeowners can hire inspectors to evaluate the structure and determine needed repairs.
