TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida lawmakers are considering sweeping legislation that would require mobile home park owners to justify rent increases and boost relocation assistance for displaced residents, potentially affecting more than 800,000 mobile home residents across the state.
The identical House Bill 703 and Senate Bill 1550, known as the “Mobile Home Park Lot Tenancies” bills, were filed by Rep. Paula Stark (R-St. Cloud) and Sen. LaVon Bracy Davis (D-Ocoee), respectively. The legislation would implement new protections for mobile home residents beginning July 1, 2026, if passed.
“I need things done, like physically done to the trailer. But I can’t do that now because I’m paying all this extra money to keep a roof over my head,” an anonymous mobile home resident told News4JAX, who saw their lot rent climb from $325 to nearly $800 in three years.
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For residents like Olga Figueroa, who lives on a fixed income, the rent increases are becoming unsustainable.
“The $1020 in my Social Security is for now... After everything [I pay] almost $900,” Figueroa said, explaining she has only about $100 left each month after expenses.
The proposed legislation would mandate park owners provide detailed documentation, including invoices and cost breakdowns, to justify rent increases. Park owners who reduce amenities without corresponding rent reductions could face penalties.
“I think it would help and everything just kind of give us a heads up like this is the reason why, so we can do improvements,” said Gordon Edwards, whose rent has increased by about $350 in recent years.
Residents report minimal improvements despite regular rent increases.
“They say it’s to improve the property,” one resident said. “The only improvement I seen they did, they got the pool up and running.”
Under the bills, courts would gain expanded authority to evaluate rent increases, considering new factors such as active sales within parks, special discounts offered to new buyers, and the number of homes abandoned to avoid eviction in the previous 12 months.
The legislation also extends tenant protections by doubling the grace period for late rent payments to 10 days. Park owners would be prohibited from mandating electronic payments and must accept checks as valid payment upon delivery.
For residents forced to relocate due to land-use changes, the bills would more than double state compensation. Single-section home owners would receive $6,500, up from $3,000, while multi-section home owners would get $11,500, increased from $6,000. Alternatively, residents could abandon their homes and receive state compensation of $5,000 for single-section or $7,000 for multi-section homes.
“Mobile home owners are a critical part of our communities, and this bill helps ensure fairness and accountability in lot tenancies,” Stark said. “This should be a bipartisan issue for the benefit of all of our citizens who need to maintain the opportunity of affordable housing.”
The proposed legislation would mandate park owners provide detailed documentation, including invoices and cost breakdowns, to justify rent increases. Park owners who reduce amenities without corresponding rent reductions could face penalties.
Under the bills, courts would gain expanded authority to evaluate rent increases, considering new factors such as active sales within parks, special discounts offered to new buyers, and the number of homes abandoned to avoid eviction in the previous 12 months.
The legislation also extends tenant protections by doubling the grace period for late rent payments to 10 days. Park owners would be prohibited from mandating electronic payments and must accept checks as valid payment upon delivery.
The Department of Legal Affairs would be empowered to enforce these new regulations, marking a significant shift in oversight of mobile home park operations.
The bills are currently under committee review in both chambers of the Florida Legislature.