Manufactured Home Parks

Rental Agreements

Requirements of a Rental Agreement

The lease, or rental agreement, is the contract between the park owner and the resident. Leases are always negotiable. A copy of the rental agreement must be given to the park applicant so the applicant can review it before signing.⁴² But, remember, any negotiations must take place before the lease is signed by either party.

A copy of the rental agreement,⁴³ the notice required by state law, and the written procedures and criteria used to evaluate a prospective tenant, must be given to an applicant to review before the applicant is asked to sign them. (Text of the required notice can be found here.) The notice required by state law must also be posted in a conspicuous and public location in the park.⁴⁴

A rental agreement must meet the following criteria:

• It must be in writing.⁴⁵
• It must be signed by the resident and the park owner or the owner’s designated person.⁴⁶
• It must specify the terms and conditions of the rental of the lot, including:⁴⁷
  • The location of the lot and its address or site number;
  • The amount of rent per month and a statement of all personal property, services, and facilities that the park owner agrees to provide to the resident;
  • The rights, duties, and obligations of the parties, and all rules applicable to the resident;
  • The amount of any security deposit or other financial obligation imposed on the resident by the park owner; and The name of any person holding a security interest in the resident’s home.

Park owners are required to give each resident a signed copy of the rental agreement with a copy of the evacuation or shelter plan attached.⁴⁸

Serving Notice

When a park owner must give notices to modify park rules, recover possession for the land if a resident allegedly violates a new or amended rule, to residents, the following are considered “proper notice”:

• Personal service.
• Mailing the notice to the last known mailing address of the resident.
• Delivering the notice to the resident’s home. (The notice must be left with someone of suitable age and discretion, or placed in a secure and conspicuous location at the home.)
• Sending certified mail. (This is effective even if the resident refuses delivery.)

A park owner must also provide a prospective resident with a notice regarding the resident’s rights.⁴⁹ The notice must use the language in Minnesota Statute section 327C.02, subd. 5, and must be posted in a conspicuous and public location within the park.