Senator Tom Umberg Announces Measure to Curb Mobilehome Rent Increases
(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana) introduced Senate Bill 999 today, a measure that would restore local control and stem the tide of rapidly increasing rental rates for mobilehomes across California. The County of Los Angeles and Golden State Manufactured Home Owners League are cosponsors of the bill, representing a strong coalition between local government and residents.
“When it comes to the issue of rent affordability for mobilehome residents, state law has been a part of the problem, not the solution,” said Senator Umberg. Senate Bill 999 will provide local governments with a real opportunity to make community-informed decisions that protect residents. Our housing crisis demands solutions at every level, for all incomes, and all kinds of homeowners and renters,” continued Senator Umberg.
Senate Bill 999, coauthored by Assemblymember Monique Limón, would remove a loophole in state law that has effectively prevented local governments from enforcing their own rent stabilization ordinances for mobilehome residents. Current law prevents local rent stabilization ordinances from applying to any mobilehome resident with a lease longer than 12 months.
Janice Hahn, the Los Angeles County Supervisor representing the Fourth District, who has advocated for mobile home tenant protections at the County level, voiced her support for the bill with the following statement: “If we are going to protect this last bastion of affordable housing, we need to ensure mobile home tenants have the same protections that we have afforded apartment tenants. I thank Senator Umberg for partnering with Los Angeles County and introducing a bill to expand local rent stabilization protections to mobile home residents.”
Mark Ridley-Thomas, the Los Angeles County Supervisor representing the Second District, welcomed the measure with a statement as well: “The numbers speak for themselves and illustrate a stark reality, that we’re at the epicenter of a crisis and it requires our coordinated efforts and use of every tool at our disposal—this is one of them,” said Supervisor Ridley-Thomas. “Without a doubt the best response to keeping people from being homeless is keeping them in their homes.”
Linda Nye, the President of Golden State Manufactured-Home Owners League, also mentioned her support for Senate Bill 999: “Protecting our modest but affordable housing is becoming a crisis for many of the approximately one million fixed-income, low-income and modest-income seniors, disabled, veterans and immigrants living in California’s mobilehomes. Senator Umberg’s bill preserves, without exception, local government protections to ensure we are able to continue living in our warm, modest home and not the cold, brutal streets. No loopholes. No exceptions. A human crisis calls for this type of leadership."
For more information on Senate Bill 999, check out the bill text and fact sheet. The measure is currently awaiting referral in the Senate Rules Committee. The measure will be eligible for a vote in its first policy committee sometime in mid-to late March.
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Senator Thomas J. Umberg represents the 34th Senate District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Long Beach, Los Alamitos,
Midway City, Orange, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, and Westminster. Umberg is a retired U.S. Army Colonel, former federal prosecutor, and small businessman.
He and his wife, Brigadier General Robin Umberg, USA (ret.), live in Orange County.