Regency evictions delayed

The evictions of residents at Regency Mobile Home Park will be delayed under an agreement reached Friday between the park's operator and the Iowa Attorney General's Office.

Also Friday, the state served a subpoena-like document on Regency of Iowa Inc. asking for certain information as part of a civil investigation, said Geoff Greenwood, spokesman for the attorney general.

The company has 10 days to respond.

Greenwood and Ben Bellus, an assistant attorney general, declined to say what information the state was seeking but said the investigation was focusing on consumer fraud issues.

The Johnson County Sheriff's Office this month opened an investigation after allegations came out that Regency, whose corporate owner is Colorado-based Churchill Group, has sold mobile homes without clear titles and without making buyers aware that back taxes are owed.

The Attorney General's Office will aid in a criminal investigation if requested and Attorney General Tom Miller directed his staff on Thursday to open a civil investigation.

The park also has long-standing issues with its water supply and debris.

Thursday morning, Regency filed eviction notices against the owners of 18 homes for unpaid rent. Residents of those 18 homes who still live in the park, which is just south of Iowa City, will be allowed to stay, at least for now.

“This gives everybody a little breathing room and gives us time to look into this case,” Greenwood said.

An unknown number of the mobile homes were abandoned, according to the Attorney General's Office, and Regency will proceed with those evictions so they can clear the titles.

Calls to Regency and Churchill Group representatives were not immediately returned Friday evening. Churchill officials have not returned repeated phone calls this month.

Regency residents who believe they were victims of fraud can contact the Attorney General's Office at 1-888-777-4590 or e-mail

consumer@iowa.gov.