Question:
“I’m 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 require residents to remove their homes when selling lot spaces. However, this is not because the home is “too old.”
The reasons park management would determine that an older home should be vacated more likely have to do with the physical condition of the house itself. If the home fails to 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 passes health and safety standards, is in satisfactory condition, and is sold with the lot space, then the park may not force a resident to remove the structure, regardless of the house’s age.
This evaluation is usually performed by park management, but in the event that there is disagreement regarding the condition of the structure, the homeowner can hire a home inspector to conduct a separate, independent evaluation. These are typically private inspectors, though some local agencies may have their own inspectors who perform similar assessments. Furthermore, if the inspector determines that the home does not pass health and safety standards, the homeowner is still entitled to make necessary repairs in a given time frame 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.
