Johnson County mobile home residents call for two-year moratorium on rent increases

IOWA CITY — Johnson County Residents United, a group that advocates for safe conditions in mobile home parks in the county, in partnership with local elected officials, is advocating for a two-year moratorium on rent increases to allow time for improved park conditions at properties owned by Havenpark Communities.

In 2019, Utah-based Havenpark Communities began buying mobile home parks in Johnson County. Since then, residents of the Havenpark-owned parks have expressed concerns over sudden rent increases, questionable water quality and poor park maintenance.

Residents in some mobile home communities throughout Johnson County have struggled with drinking water contamination, and Modern Manor residents were without water for three days in January.

Some residents in Lake Ridge estates, and a few other mobile home parks, have been sending water to the University of Iowa Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination for testing.

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Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition — which works in partnership with Johnson County Residents United — and park residents who spoke at a news conference Wednesday near Modern Manor, a Havenpark-owned mobile home park outside Iowa City, said communication with Havenpark about addressing community concerns has been inconsistent.

As a result, they requested help from the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, which penned a letter to Havenpark Communities advocating for the two-year rent increase moratorium.

“We feel as though this will help to repair some of the harm and hardships that these residents have had to endure during your acquisition of their neighborhood and the severe decline in services,” the supervisors wrote in the letter, which requests a two-year rent moratorium.

Havenpark Communities responded to the Board of Supervisors’ letter in a letter, which was provided by the firm to The Gazette. In it, Havenpark wrote that rent increases are anticipated this year in part due to property tax and assessment increases.

“We are committed to adding enduring value for current and future residents, and across Sunrise Village, Modern Manor, and Lake Ridge Estates, we have invested more than $2,125,000 in upgrades and improvements and plan for an additional $1,200,000 in capital improvements over the next 20 months. We want our residents to be proud to call our communities home and welcome open communications at all times,” Havenpark Communities said in a statement to The Gazette.

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Expectations for Livable Communities

Johnson County Residents United and other advocates for affordable and safe housing throughout the county have developed “Expectations for Liveable Communities.” The list include ensuring clean water, improved park maintenance and the rent increase moratorium.

The demands for improved park maintenance include improved street lighting, 24-hour snow removal, ADA-accessible storm shelters, and park-wide emergency shelter plans. Residents also have requested that dead or diseased trees throughout the park be taken care of or removed.

In the letter to the Board of Supervisors, Havenpark Communities said it is working to evaluate improving the park utilities, including the concerns brought forth by Johnson County Residents United. Havenpark Communities said tree maintenance and removal work is scheduled to start next week at Modern Manor and Sunrise Village.

Nicole Platz, a Modern Manor resident, moved to the park 15 years ago due to its affordability, proximity to her work and amenities such as yard, trash and cable service.

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When Havenpark took over, Platz said the rent increased by almost 40 percent. She also has resorted to buying drinking water at nearby grocery stores after she said the tap water at the park caused health issues for one of her pets.

“We need to ensure safe drinking water, stop excessive rent increases and hold ownership accountable. The residents of Modern Manor deserve better, fairness, transparency and a livable home,” Platz said at Wednesday’s news conference.

Platz said her household is considering moving. However, Platz’s home, which she owns, likely would cost thousands of dollars to move and she’d still need a place to put it. Otherwise, she’d have to sell the home, which Platz said could be a difficult process in the midst of the residents’ issues with Havenpark.

While immediately improving the lives of mobile home park residents is the top priority, speakers at the news conference also highlighted the importance of other legislative action. Particularly noting that state laws for mobile home parks are in a separate part of Iowa Code than traditional rentals.

“There are no guarantees about how much rent can be increased, no limits on excessive fees, and very few requirements for maintenance or on site management,” Jessica Andino, executive director of the Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition, said at the news conference. “Extreme lot rent increases for bad actors like Havenpark pose a serious threat to affordable housing, not only in manufactured home communities, but to all in Johnson County.”

Comments: megan.woolard@thegazette.com

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