A rent leveling bill aimed at protecting mobile home residents from steep lot fee increases is moving closer to becoming law in New Jersey.
Jackson Planning Board member Joe Sullivan recently testified alongside others at a state Senate hearing in Trenton in support of the measure, which would cap lot fee hikes at 3% for mobile home communities. The proposal, put forward by state Sen. Paul Moriarty and Assemblyman Dan Hutchinson, seeks to address concerns over rising costs in these communities as Wall Street investment firms increasingly acquire mobile home parks and raise fees for profit.
Approximately 60,000 New Jersey residents live in mobile or modular home communities, owning their homes but paying monthly lot fees to park operators.
The Rent Leveling Board, comprising five members and two alternates, was formed to ensure a balance between tenant protections and landlord interests. The board members, appointed by the mayor with council approval, serve staggered terms, providing ongoing oversight of rent adjustments and compliance.