NEWS BLIPS
Iowa Mobile Home Park Forced To Raise Rent
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through Des Moines Register's website.
The Des Moines Register reports on tax for mobile home park residents being raised a significant amount. Among them are more single parents, elderly residents and people on fixed incomes. The new owner, Havenpark Capital, said the rent increase is necessary to bring it more in line with what it says are similar quality communities in the metro. Located in Waukee, Midwest Country Estates told the Des Moines Register it was increasing rent $205 per month to $500, starting June 1 — a 69 percent increase.
Des Moines Register writer Ian Richardson relays in his article, "Without raising [the] rent, our community would be at risk of going away because it is in a high-growth area — one of the fastest growing in the country," a letter from the mobile home park to residents said. Iowa law does not set a cap on how much landlords are allowed to increase rental rates as long as they provide adequate notice and respect existing lease agreements. Residents said relocating to a less expensive park likely won't be an option for many since the mobile homes they own are too old to move.
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