Johnson County leaders, residents, push for halt to rent increases in mobile home parks

IOWA CITY — The Johnson County Board of Supervisors is reiterating its request that the owner of three mobile home parks in the county implement a two-year moratorium on lot rent increases.

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.

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The Board is in the process of penning a new letter to Havenpark Communities, after the most recent one was sent in May. The letter, which still must be formally approved by the board, will look to clarify property tax estimates for the property and reinstate requests from its first letter.

“We feel as if 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 their first letter, which requested a two-year rent moratorium.

The Board has clarified that Havenpark Communities isn’t in violation of any specific Iowa codes a the moment, but it is sending another letter to use its position as a governmental body to uplift the concerns of county residents.

“It's the residents’ demands, which I don't have an issue of them making demands … I think we need to clarify the fact that … we are not in the government's name saying here are our codes and you have not complied, ” Supervisor Rod Sullivan said at a work session this week.

Residents enlisted elected officials after communication concerns

Johnson County Residents United, a group that advocates for safe conditions in mobile home parks in the county, had been working with the Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition to reach out to Havenpark after some communities have struggled with drinking water contamination, and Modern Manor residents were without water for three days in January.

The Board of Supervisors got involved after requests from residents over inconsistent communication from Havenpark, which resulted in the initial letter.

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

The demands for improved park maintenance include adequate 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.

Initial response from Havenpark Communities

Havenpark Communities has said it is working to evaluate improving the park utilities, including the concerns brought forth by Johnson County Residents United.

Since June, Havenpark Communities has begun tree maintenance and removal work at Modern Manor and Sunrise Village, according to the board.

Havenpark Communities responded to the Board of Supervisors’ May letter in its own letter, which was provided by the company to The Gazette in June. 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 in June.

The Board of Supervisors is looking to confirm the property tax rates on the properties owned by Havenpark Communities and include those in its letter.

Comments: megan.woolard@thegazette.com

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