Summer is generally a slower time in the Richmond region as families head out for vacation (or to the Rivah!). But, the work on issues related to manufactured housing goes on.
Housing Commission Begins Consideration of MH Legislation
The Virginia Housing Commission Neighborhood Transtions Workgroup began working on several issues directly related to manufactured home communities. One is legislation that would create a first right of refusal for park residents when an owner decides to sell their community, place notification requirements on owners who decide to sell, and require owners to consider offers from tenants to purchase the community and negotiate in good faith when such offers are made. Another would significantly raise the amount a tenant could collect from a landlord who violated provisions of the Virginia Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act, but not place a similar burden on a resident who violates the Act.
At the workgroup meeting, members discussed an increased penalty for the two specific “slumlord/bad actor” practices that tenant advocates say they have observed: park owners not providing written leases and/or doing month to month leases in violation of the Act, both of which are specific things. All of these issues will be back on the agenda in September.
The Housing Commission will also be looking at legislation dealing with things like rent-to-own and lease option contracts as well as hoarding. You can click here to see a full list of items on the Housing Commission agenda this summer and fall.
Work to Begin on Source of Income Legislation
During August, a workgroup will begin discussions on legislation that would add “source of income” to the Virginia Fair Housing Act. In short, this would create a situation where landlords who make a business decision not to participate in Section 8 could be the subject of fair housing complaints. In other words, landlords would be forced to accept vouchers and become subject to all of the regulations associated with Section 8.
Lieutenant Governor Holds Eviction Rountables
Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax recently held three roundtables (Richmond, Newport News, and Chesapeke) on the evictions issue. They included a wide range of stakeholders and very open, balanced discussions about the challenges, opportunities, and concerns of both landlords and tenants. Coverage of the rountables can be seen here and here. In addtion here is an editorial on the topic from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
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Both the Democratic and Republican parties are having primaries to nominate candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor. In some parts of the Commonwealth, there are nomination contests for the House of Delegates and local offices.