Thousands of Illinois residents live in mobile home parks, referred to as Manufactured Home Communities. The Illinois government has enacted several laws that govern these parks to ensure a healthful, safe, and enjoyable standard of living. However, many times owners and managers of these communities neglect their responsibilities. When this occurs, residents of these communities have remedies.
The Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Rights Act provides legal rights, remedies and obligations for owners and residents of these communities. Additionally, the Manufactured Home Community Code sets forth additional obligations owners have in providing a safe and healthy community to its residents. The Illinois Department of Public Health enforces the Code through annual inspections to ensure the communities maintain the required standard of living.
Some of the owner’s responsibilities include:
- maintaining a safe water supply, sewage disposal system, and electrical system
- maintaining the roadways
- providing adequate lighting
- inspecting the community on a weekly basis to determine any public health violations
- maintaining common maintenance
If the community owner does not properly maintain the community, the resident should first inform the community manager. However, in many cases, the owner and manager are the same person. If the situation is not corrected, the resident should contact the appropriate regional office of the Illinois Department of Public Health.
If you believe your rights have been violated or you were injured because of the disrepair of the community, you should talk with an attorney.