Mobilehome Privacy Bill Signed Into Law

Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) today announced that Governor Schwarzenegger has signed his Senate Bill 1234, to provide mobilehome owners a greater degree of privacy in mobilehome parks.

Senator Correa, Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Manufactured Homes and Communities, said, "Current law specifies that park management cannot enter a mobilehome without the homeowner's written permission, except in an emergency or in the case of abandonment, but permits the management to enter the lot to check on homeowner compliance with park rules and regulations."

"Because some managers have abused this privilege," the Senator emphasized, "by frequent or unannounced inspection of homeowner lots, carports, decks and other accessory structures, and in some cases have been allegedly looking in windows or the home's crawl spaces, homeowners have complained that their privacy is being invaded without notice."

SB 1234 extends the protection afforded homes in parks by current law to enclosed accessory structures, such as garages, storage sheds, cabanas or enclosed decks, some of which are living areas attached to the home, by requiring managers to obtain a homeowner's written permission before they can enter these private areas.

SB 1234 is supported by the California Alliance for Retired Americans, the Congress of California Seniors, and the Golden State Manufactured-home Owners League. As Chapter 115, Statutes of 2008, it will become effective on January 1, 2009.