Michigan Mobile Home Rental Laws
- As mobile homes gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, regulation was needed to combat discriminatory practices and instill consumer confidence. In 1987, the State of Michigan responded to these concerns with the creation of the Mobile Home Commission Act. This broad spectrum of laws covered many aspects of mobile home park construction and occupancy. It was just the beginning of decades of further regulation the state would impose on the mobile home community.
- Thanks to the act, Michigan's mobile home tenants have fundamental rights similar to other homes. They cannot be charged to enter or leave the park or be forced to purchase goods as a condition for residence within the park. Security deposits cannot exceed normal limits for any house, and rules regarding pets and children cannot change for tenants after they move in. Mobile home operators cannot evict tenants without the same just cause required for other homes in Michigan.
- Michigan routinely investigates mobile home laws as part of its effort to stabilize its economy. The effect of mobile homes reaches well beyond the parks and often strains entire cities. Poor living conditions blemish neighborhoods and lower home values, and the parks are often a significant source of crime. The problems escalate with time. Over the years, Michigan's struggling economy has contributed to the rise in mobile home living, which then contributes to further economic decline. These effects keep mobile home legislation a ripe topic.
- Michigan's cities want more power to control their environment, and this creates a controversial legal issue. The mobile home industry strongly opposes government regulation that would allow inspections similar to those for permanent homes. However, on June 16, 2009, Michigan's House Intergovernmental Committee unanimously passed a bill permitting mobile home inspections at the discretion of communities. While the legislation is still in review (as of October 2009), it demonstrates a growing concern for living conditions throughout the state.
- Mobile homes played an important role in Michigan's Public Act 314 of 2000, which substantially increased penalties for the production of methamphetamine. The Michigan State Police and Department of Community Health constantly educates mobile home operators on precautions pertaining to meth production. In 2002 alone, 189 labs were seized state-wide, and mobile homes frequently appear in local drug-related news reports. These events further push the demand for new mobile home search-and-seizure laws and overall regulation.
