More than 100 residents, frustrated with increasing rents at their homes at the Lamplighter Mobile Home Park, urged the Camarillo City Council this week to consider rent control laws in the city.
Several of the residents held signs with words such as “Rent Control Now” during the council’s meeting on Wednesday, where a discussion on mobile home park rent issues was on the agenda but no council action was taken.
City Attorney Brian Pierik advised the council not to consider rent control because the city risks being sued by the property owner, who might say rent control doesn’t allow a return on the investment.
In 2010, Brian Fitterer of Investment Property Group purchased the 227-space mobile home park.
Rent was initially raised by the new owners by $55 per year, but that amount was reduced to about $31.60 per year based on a recommendation by the Rent Review Commission.
Before 2010, the annual rent increase was based on the respective year’s consumer price index. Lamplighter residents want to see a predictable percentage of rent increases based on the current rate of inflation, which is about 2 percent.
Matt Lorimer, president of the Lamplighter Estates Homeowners Association and resident of the mobile home park, said rent in 2010 was about $735 for a mobile home space. He said the move-in rent today is $1,029.
There are two nonresident owned mobile home parks in the city. Renters at the other mobile home park, Casa Del Norte, pay about $695 per month in rent. He said many of the residents at the park are senior citizens on a fixed income, low-income families, and those with disabilities, who can’t afford paying increasing rental costs.
“The idea that $294 in less than four years is acceptable to you as city councilmen is unacceptable to us. That’s called gauging,” said Lorimer.
Ventura, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Santa Paula and Moorpark are cities in Ventura County that have rent control ordinances.
While Camarillo does not have rent control, it does have a Rent Review Commission, which provides a forum to assist in the resolution of rent disputes between landlord and tenants for mobile homes in parks with 25 or more spaces and for apartment buildings with five or more units that were leased or occupied on or before July 1, 1984.
If a tenant receives a notice of a proposed rent increase which they believe is unfair or unreasonable, they may petition for review of the proposed rent increase and more than 25 percent of the tenants must sign it.
In 2010, a rent increase was proposed for $55 per month, but the request was lowered to about $32 after residents requested a review by the commission.
Residents at the meeting also spoke about concerns that the mobile home park owner has failed to maintain the park despite rising rental costs.
Amber Monte, president of IPG, said the higher rental costs have been needed because the company has spent more than $350,000 for improvements and repairs since it purchased the mobile home park in 2010. Monte said the company plans to spend an additional $200,000 for improvements this summer.
She said several homes were also upgraded or replaced, and rent increases have been due in part because of rising costs in sewer and water bills.
Monte said the average rate increase per year has been about 3.35 percent, which she said is reasonable.
Monte said the company does have concern for people who are struggling, and has implemented a rental assistance program that includes a 10 percent rent reduction to any resident who shows need.
“We will ensure that no one will be evicted if they can’t afford the rent increase that we’re giving,” said Monte.
Pierik said the city shouldn’t risk a potential lawsuit by deciding on rent control.
“While the outcome of such a lawsuit would be for the courts to decide, there would be, at a minimum, substantial time and expense for the city to defend against such lawsuits,” said Pierik.
Council member Jan McDonald said the meeting was important to have questions answered and air the issues, and she wanted to mull over all the information given before making an opinion on rent control in the city.
Other council members said they didn’t want the city put in a situation where it can be sued. They suggested that city staff facilitate negotiations with the property owner and residents to solve some of the issues.
“It’s been a long, long ride with this, and we need to see some movement with good faith negotiations,” said Mayor Kevin Kildee.
Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2014/may/16/vcspop-mobil-home-residents-want-rent-control/#ixzz31wlXHUSm
- vcstar.com
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