Florida proposal may bring limited relief for mobile home parks

ARCADIA, Fla. (WINK) For many people living in manufactured home communities across Florida, affordability is no longer just a concern; residents say it’s becoming a daily struggle.

Now, a proposed Florida tax bill could bring some relief to residents living in mobile home parks, though many homeowners tell WINK News the impact may only slightly reduce the larger financial pressures they face.

WINK News took a closer look at HB 7031-E, a proposed Florida tax package that includes a provision aimed at limiting annual property assessment increases for qualifying mobile home parks.

Under the proposal, some mobile home park property assessment increases would be capped at 3% annually instead of potentially larger commercial property assessment increases.

To qualify, at least 75% of the mobile home lots in the park would need to have written rental agreements lasting at least one year. Park owners would also need to submit documentation showing the community qualifies under the state’s guidelines.

The idea is that smaller property tax increases for park owners could slightly reduce some of the pass-through fees residents ultimately pay through lot rent or other monthly costs.

But residents say the proposal only addresses a small part of a much larger affordability issue.

“We have residents that have been here for 20-25 years. They’ve lost a spouse; they only have one income now,” said Beth Patrus, a resident of Arcadia Village in DeSoto County.

Patrus said many people living in manufactured home communities across Florida are dealing with rising lot rents, increasing insurance costs, and growing concerns about whether they can afford to stay in communities they once viewed as affordable retirement options.

She said her community recently experienced lot rent increases of roughly $90 a month after the property was sold to a corporate owner.

Residents in other Southwest Florida manufactured home communities have shared similar concerns with WINK News in recent months.

In Jamaica Bay Village in Lee County, residents reported rising lot rents, concerns over affordability, and difficulties selling homes due to increasing monthly costs.

In North Fort Myers, residents in Royal Coach Village told WINK News they were cutting back on food, gas, medication, and entertainment to keep up with rising lot rents while living on fixed incomes.

Patrus explained that while the proposed tax bill could slightly reduce tax-related increases passed down to residents, the actual savings would likely be limited.

“If it’s capped at 3 percent, it probably would only cost us a dollar fifty per month,” Patrus said.

Residents say any relief helps, but many believe the larger issue remains lot rent increases themselves.

“Our hope is, is that a number of our residents, and throughout Florida, they’re writing to our congress people to help put a cap on the lot rent,” Patrus said.

Patrus said many residents living in manufactured home communities are worried about the future affordability of the lifestyle they originally moved to Florida for.

“They can’t afford these increases, let alone their food, their medicine, their utilities that they’re responsible for, their insurance, you know, all this adds up real fast for them,” Patrus said.

The proposed bill still must continue moving through the legislative process in Tallahassee.