A.B. 619

 

Assembly Bill No. 619–Committee on Commerce and Labor

 

March 26, 2001

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

 

SUMMARY—Revises certain provisions relating to mobile home parks. (BDR 10‑1090)

 

FISCAL NOTE:    Effect on Local Government: No.

                                 Effect on the State: No.

 

~

 

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

 

AN ACT relating to mobile home parks; authorizing the landlord of a mobile home park to require written consent before a person occupies a mobile home or recreational vehicle or moves a mobile home or recreational vehicle into the mobile home park; providing that a person who does not obtain such consent is an unlawful occupant; requiring the landlord of a mobile home park to post periodically a report on the quality of water supplied to the mobile home park; authorizing the landlord of a mobile home park to impose certain requirements pertaining to the occupancy of mobile homes; providing that certain prohibitions pertaining to increases in rent for mobile homes and mobile home lots apply to long-term leases; reducing certain periods of notice required before a landlord may bring an action for an unlawful detainer or terminate a written agreement; authorizing the landlord or manager of a mobile home park to resell certain mobile homes without being licensed as a dealer in certain circumstances; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1    Section 1.  Chapter 118B of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto

1-2  the provisions set forth as sections 2, 3 and 4 of this act.

1-3    Sec. 2.  “Unlawful occupant” means a person described in

1-4  subsection 5 of section 3 of this act.

1-5    Sec. 3.  1.  The landlord of a mobile home park may require that a

1-6  person submit a written application to and receive written consent from

1-7  the landlord before the person:

1-8    (a) Occupies a mobile home or recreational vehicle in the mobile

1-9  home park; or

1-10    (b) Moves or causes to be moved a mobile home or recreational

1-11  vehicle into the mobile home park.

1-12    2.  In addition to the provisions of subsection 1, if a person who

1-13  intends to occupy a mobile home or recreational vehicle in a mobile

1-14  home park is not the owner of the mobile home or recreational vehicle,


2-1  the landlord of the mobile home park may require that the person receive

2-2  written consent from the owner of the mobile home or recreational

2-3  vehicle before the person occupies that mobile home or recreational

2-4  vehicle.

2-5    3.  If the landlord of a mobile home park requires written consent

2-6  pursuant to subsection 1 or 2, the landlord shall post and maintain a sign

2-7  which is clearly readable at the entrance to the mobile home park which

2-8  advises the reader of the consent that is required before a person may:

2-9    (a) Occupy a mobile home or recreational vehicle in the mobile home

2-10  park; or

2-11    (b) Move or cause to be moved a mobile home or recreational vehicle

2-12  into the mobile home park.

2-13    4.  If the landlord of a mobile home park requires written consent

2-14  pursuant to subsection 1, the landlord may deny an application submitted

2-15  pursuant to that subsection on one or more of the following grounds:

2-16    (a) The application is to move or cause to be moved a mobile home or

2-17  recreational vehicle into the mobile home park and the applicant does

2-18  not hold title to the mobile home or recreational vehicle on the date of

2-19  application or will not hold title to the mobile home or recreational

2-20  vehicle on the date that the mobile home or recreational vehicle is moved

2-21  into the mobile home park.

2-22    (b) The landlord requires the approval of prospective buyers and

2-23  tenants pursuant to NRS 118B.170 and the applicant is a prospective

2-24  buyer or tenant to whom the landlord has not granted such approval.

2-25    (c) The condition of the mobile home or recreational vehicle that the

2-26  applicant proposes to occupy or move into the mobile home park is such

2-27  that the mobile home or recreational vehicle would be subject to removal

2-28  from the mobile home park pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 118B.170.

2-29    (d) The applicant proposes to occupy a mobile home or recreational

2-30  vehicle in the mobile home park pursuant to the sublease or assignment

2-31  of a mobile home lot, and the rental agreement used by the landlord for

2-32  renting lots in the mobile home park specifies that such a sublease or

2-33  assignment is prohibited.

2-34    (e) The applicant is unable or unwilling to comply with any other

2-35  rules and regulations which the landlord has adopted and set forth in the

2-36  rental agreement used by the landlord for renting mobile home lots in the

2-37  mobile home park.

2-38    5.  A person is an unlawful occupant if that person, with the intent to

2-39  reside in a mobile home park:

2-40    (a) Occupies a mobile home or recreational vehicle in the mobile

2-41  home park for a period of 1 day or more without the written consent of

2-42  the landlord, if the landlord requires such consent pursuant to paragraph

2-43  (a) of subsection 1;

2-44    (b) Moves or causes to be moved a mobile home or recreational

2-45  vehicle into the mobile home park without the written consent of the

2-46  landlord, if the landlord requires such consent pursuant to paragraph (b)

2-47  of subsection 1; or

2-48    (c) Occupies a mobile home or recreational vehicle in the mobile

2-49  home park for a period of 1 day or more without the written consent of


3-1  the owner of the mobile home, if the landlord requires such consent

3-2  pursuant to subsection 2.

3-3    6.  If an unlawful occupant is occupying a mobile home or

3-4  recreational vehicle in a mobile home park, the landlord of that mobile

3-5  home park may:

3-6    (a) After providing at least 5 days’ written notice to the unlawful

3-7  occupant, bring an action for an unlawful detainer in the manner

3-8  prescribed in chapter 40 of NRS; or

3-9    (b) Require the unlawful occupant to sign a rental agreement. If the

3-10  unlawful occupant refuses to sign the rental agreement within 5 days

3-11  after such a request, the landlord may, after providing at least 5 days’

3-12  written notice to the unlawful occupant, bring an action for an unlawful

3-13  detainer in the manner provided in chapter 40 of NRS.

3-14    7.  For the purposes of NRS 40.251, an unlawful occupant shall be

3-15  deemed a tenant at will and a lessee of the mobile home park.

3-16    Sec. 4.  1.  The landlord of a mobile home park shall post in a

3-17  conspicuous and readily accessible place in the community or

3-18  recreational facility in the mobile home park, at or near the entrance of

3-19  the mobile home park or other common area in the mobile home park, a

3-20  current report on the quality of the water that is supplied to the mobile

3-21  home park.

3-22    2.  The report must be obtained from:

3-23    (a) The health division of the department of human resources;

3-24    (b) The health authority, as that term is defined in NRS 445A.820; or

3-25    (c) The supplier of water, as that term is defined in NRS 445A.845.

3-26    3.  The landlord shall post the report at least once each year and at

3-27  such other times as one of the entities described in subsection 2 may

3-28  provide an updated report to the landlord.

3-29    Sec. 5.  NRS 118B.010 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-30    118B.010  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise

3-31  requires, the words and terms defined in NRS 118B.011 to 118B.0195,

3-32  inclusive, and section 2 of this act have the meanings ascribed to them in

3-33  those sections.

3-34    Sec. 6.  NRS 118B.0185 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-35    118B.0185  “Tenant” means the owner of a mobile home which is

3-36  located on a mobile home lot in a mobile home park. The term does not

3-37  include an unlawful occupant.

3-38    Sec. 7.  NRS 118B.100 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-39    118B.100  1.  The landlord may adopt rules or regulations concerning

3-40  the tenant’s use and occupancy of the mobile home lot and the grounds,

3-41  areas and facilities of the mobile home park held out for the use of tenants

3-42  generally.

3-43    2.  All such rules or regulations must be:

3-44    (a) Reasonably related to the purpose for which they are adopted;

3-45    (b) Sufficiently explicit in their prohibition, direction or limitation to

3-46  inform the tenant of what he must do or not do for compliance;

3-47    (c) Adopted in good faith and not for the purpose of evading any

3-48  obligation of the landlord arising under the law;


4-1    (d) Consistent with the provisions of this chapter and a general plan of

4-2  operation, construction or improvement, and must not arbitrarily restrict

4-3  conduct or require any capital improvement by the tenant which is not

4-4  specified in the rental agreement or unreasonably require a change in any

4-5  capital improvement made by the tenant and previously approved by the

4-6  landlord unless the landlord can show that it is in the best interest of the

4-7  other tenants; and

4-8    (e) Uniformly enforced against all tenants in the park, including the

4-9  managers. Any rule or regulation which is not so uniformly enforced may

4-10  not be enforced against any tenant.

4-11    3.  No rule or regulation may be used to impose any additional charge

4-12  for occupancy of a mobile home lot or modify the terms of a rental

4-13  agreement.

4-14    4.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5, a rule or regulation is

4-15  enforceable against the tenant only if he has notice of it at the time he

4-16  enters into the rental agreement. A rule or regulation adopted or amended

4-17  after the tenant enters into the rental agreement is not enforceable unless

4-18  the tenant consents to it in writing or is given 60 days’ notice of it in

4-19  writing. The landlord may not adopt or amend a rule or regulation of the

4-20  park unless a meeting of the tenants is held to discuss the proposal and the

4-21  landlord provides each tenant with notice of the proposal and the date, time

4-22  and place of the meeting not less than 60 days before the meeting. The

4-23  notice must include a copy of the proposed adoption or amendment of the

4-24  rule or regulation. A notice in a periodic publication of the park does not

4-25  constitute notice for the purposes of this subsection.

4-26    5.  A rule or regulation pertaining to recreational facilities in the mobile

4-27  home park must be in writing to be enforceable.

4-28    6.  The landlord of a mobile home park may adopt rules or

4-29  regulations which limit the number of occupants of a mobile home that is

4-30  located within the mobile home park based upon considerations of safety

4-31  and the capacity of infrastructure and utility services pertinent to the

4-32  mobile home park or the mobile homes within that mobile home park.

4-33  Unless those considerations require otherwise, the landlord may establish

4-34  a general limitation of two persons per bedroom and one infant per

4-35  mobile home.

4-36    7.  As used in this section, “capital improvement” means an addition or

4-37  betterment made to a mobile home located on a lot in a mobile home park

4-38  which is leased by the landlord that:

4-39    (a) Consists of more than the repair or replacement of an existing

4-40  facility;

4-41    (b) Is required by federal law to be amortized over its useful life for the

4-42  purposes of income tax; and

4-43    (c) Has a useful life of 5 years or more.

4-44    Sec. 8.  NRS 118B.150 is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-45    118B.150  The landlord or his agent or employee shall not:

4-46    1.  Increase rent or additional charges unless:

4-47    (a) The rent charged after the increase is the same rent charged for

4-48  mobile homes of the same size or lots of the same size or of a similar

4-49  location within the park, including, without limitation, mobile homes and


5-1  lots which are held pursuant to a long-term lease, except that a discount

5-2  may be selectively given to persons who:

5-3       (1) Are handicapped;

5-4       (2) Are 55 years of age or older;

5-5       (3) Are long-term tenants of the park if the landlord has specified in

5-6  the rental agreement or lease the period of tenancy required to qualify for

5-7  such a discount;

5-8       (4) Pay their rent in a timely manner; or

5-9       (5) Pay their rent by check, money order or electronic means;

5-10    (b) Any increase in additional charges for special services is the same

5-11  amount for each tenant using the special service; and

5-12    (c) Written notice advising a tenant of the increase is received by the

5-13  tenant 90 days before the first payment to be increased and written notice

5-14  of the increase is given to prospective tenants before commencement of

5-15  their tenancy. In addition to the notice provided to a tenant pursuant to this

5-16  paragraph, if the landlord or his agent or employee knows or reasonably

5-17  should know that the tenant receives assistance from the fund created

5-18  pursuant to NRS 118B.215, the landlord or his agent or employee shall

5-19  provide to the administrator written notice of the increase 90 days before

5-20  the first payment to be increased.

5-21    2.  Require a tenant to pay for an improvement to the common area of a

5-22  mobile home park unless the landlord is required to make the improvement

5-23  pursuant to an ordinance of a local government.

5-24    3.  Require a tenant to pay for a capital improvement to the mobile

5-25  home park unless the tenant has notice of the requirement at the time he

5-26  enters into the rental agreement. A tenant may not be required to pay for a

5-27  capital improvement after the tenant enters into the rental agreement unless

5-28  the tenant consents to it in writing or is given 60 days’ notice of the

5-29  requirement in writing. The landlord may not establish such a requirement

5-30  unless a meeting of the tenants is held to discuss the proposal and the

5-31  landlord provides each tenant with notice of the proposal and the date, time

5-32  and place of the meeting not less than 60 days before the meeting. The

5-33  notice must include a copy of the proposal. A notice in a periodic

5-34  publication of the park does not constitute notice for the purposes of this

5-35  subsection.

5-36    4.  Require a tenant to pay his rent by check or money order.

5-37    5.  Require a tenant who pays his rent in cash to apply any change to

5-38  which he is entitled to the next periodic payment that is due. The landlord

5-39  or his agent or employee shall have an adequate amount of money

5-40  available to provide change to such a tenant.

5-41    6.  Prohibit or require fees or deposits for any meetings held in the

5-42  park’s community or recreational facility by the tenants or occupants of

5-43  any mobile home or recreational vehicle in the park to discuss the park’s

5-44  affairs, or any political or social meeting sponsored by a tenant, if the

5-45  meetings are held at reasonable hours and when the facility is not otherwise

5-46  in use, or prohibit the distribution of notices of those meetings.

5-47    7.  Interrupt, with the intent to terminate occupancy, any utility service

5-48  furnished the tenant except for nonpayment of utility charges when due.


6-1  Any landlord who violates this subsection is liable to the tenant for actual

6-2  damages.

6-3    8.  Prohibit a tenant from having guests, but he may require the tenant

6-4  to register the guest within 48 hours after his arrival, Sundays and legal

6-5  holidays excluded, and if the park is a secured park, a guest may be

6-6  required to register upon entering and leaving.

6-7    9.  Charge a fee for a guest who does not stay with the tenant for more

6-8  than a total of 60 days in a calendar year. The tenant of a mobile home lot

6-9  who is living alone may allow one other person to live in his home without

6-10  paying an additional charge or fee, unless such a living arrangement

6-11  constitutes a violation of chapter 315 of NRS. No agreement between a

6-12  tenant and his guest alters or varies the terms of the rental contract between

6-13  the tenant and the landlord, and the guest is subject to the rules and

6-14  regulations of the landlord.

6-15    10.  Prohibit a tenant from erecting a fence along the perimeter of the

6-16  tenant’s lot if the fence complies with any standards for fences established

6-17  by the landlord, including limitations established for the height of fences,

6-18  the materials used for fences and the manner in which fences are to be

6-19  constructed.

6-20    11.  Prohibit any tenant from soliciting membership in any association

6-21  which is formed by the tenants who live in the park. As used in this

6-22  subsection, “solicit” means to make an oral or written request for

6-23  membership or the payment of dues or to distribute, circulate or post a

6-24  notice for payment of those dues.

6-25    12.  Prohibit a public officer or candidate for public office from

6-26  walking through the park to talk with the tenants.

6-27    13.  If a tenant has voluntarily assumed responsibility to trim the trees

6-28  on his lot, require the tenant to trim any particular tree located on the lot or

6-29  dispose of the trimmings unless a danger or hazard exists.

6-30    14.  As used in this section, “long-term lease” means a rental

6-31  agreement or lease, the duration of which exceeds 12 months.

6-32    Sec. 9.  NRS 118B.170 is hereby amended to read as follows:

6-33    118B.170  1.  The landlord may require approval of a prospective

6-34  buyer and tenant before the sale of a tenant’s mobile home or recreational

6-35  vehicle, if the mobile home or vehicle will remain in the park. The landlord

6-36  shall consider the record, if any, of the prospective buyer and tenant

6-37  concerning the payment of rent. The landlord shall not unreasonably

6-38  withhold his consent.

6-39    2.  If a tenant sells his mobile home or recreational vehicle, the landlord

6-40  may require that the mobile home or recreational vehicle be removed from

6-41  the park if it is deemed by the park’s written rules or regulations in the

6-42  possession of the tenants to be in a run-down condition or in disrepair or

6-43  does not meet the safety standards set forth in NRS 461A.120. If the

6-44  mobile home must be inspected to determine compliance with the

6-45  standards, the person requesting the inspection shall pay for it.

6-46    3.  If the landlord requires the approval of a prospective buyer and

6-47  tenant, he shall post and maintain a sign which is clearly readable at the

6-48  entrance to the park which advises the reader that before a mobile home in

6-49  the park is sold, the prospective buyer must be approved by the landlord.


7-1    4.  If the landlord requires the approval of a prospective buyer and

7-2  tenant of a mobile home or recreational vehicle and the mobile home or

7-3  recreational vehicle is sold without the approval of the landlord, the

7-4  landlord may:

7-5    (a) After providing at least [10] 5 days’ written notice to the buyer and

7-6  tenant, bring an action for an unlawful detainer in the manner prescribed in

7-7  chapter 40 of NRS; or

7-8    (b) Require the buyer and tenant to sign a rental agreement. If the buyer

7-9  and tenant refuse to sign the rental agreement within 5 days after such a

7-10  request, the landlord may, after providing at least [10] 5 days’ written

7-11  notice to the buyer and tenant, bring an action for an unlawful detainer in

7-12  the manner provided in chapter 40 of NRS.

7-13    5.  For the purposes of NRS 40.251, a person who:

7-14    (a) Purchases a mobile home or recreational vehicle from a tenant of a

7-15  mobile home park which will remain in the park;

7-16    (b) Was required to be approved by the landlord of the mobile home

7-17  park before the sale of the mobile home or recreational vehicle; and

7-18    (c) Was not approved by the landlord before he purchased that mobile

7-19  home or recreational vehicle,

7-20  shall be deemed a tenant at will and a lessee of the mobile home park.

7-21    Sec. 10.  NRS 118B.190 is hereby amended to read as follows:

7-22    118B.190  1.  A written agreement between a landlord and tenant for

7-23  the rental or lease of a mobile home lot in a mobile home park in this state,

7-24  or for the rental or lease of a lot for a recreational vehicle in an area of a

7-25  mobile home park in this state other than an area designated as a

7-26  recreational vehicle lot pursuant to the provisions of subsection 6 of NRS

7-27  40.215, must not be terminated by the landlord except upon notice in

7-28  writing to the tenant served in the manner provided in NRS 40.280:

7-29    (a) Five days in advance if the termination is because [the] :

7-30      (1) The conduct of the tenant constitutes a nuisance as described in

7-31  subsection 6 of NRS 118B.200[.] ; or

7-32      (2) The mobile home or recreational vehicle is occupied by an

7-33  unlawful occupant.

7-34    (b) Ten days in advance if the termination is because of failure of the

7-35  tenant to pay rent, utility charges or reasonable service fees.

7-36    (c) One hundred eighty days in advance if the termination is because of

7-37  a change in the use of the land by the landlord pursuant to NRS 118B.180.

7-38    (d) Forty-five days in advance if the termination is for any other reason.

7-39    2.  The landlord shall specify in the notice the reason for the

7-40  termination of the agreement. The reason relied upon for the termination

7-41  must be set forth with specific facts so that the date, place and

7-42  circumstances concerning the reason for the termination can be determined.

7-43  The termination must be in accordance with the provisions of NRS

7-44  118B.200 and reference alone to a provision of that section does not

7-45  constitute sufficient specificity pursuant to this subsection.

7-46    3.  The service of such a notice does not enhance the landlord’s right, if

7-47  any, to enter the tenant’s mobile home. Except in an emergency, the

7-48  landlord shall not enter the mobile home of the tenant served with such a

7-49  notice without the tenant’s permission or a court order allowing the entry.


8-1    4.  If a tenant remains in possession of the mobile home lot after

8-2  expiration of the term of the rental agreement, the tenancy is from week to

8-3  week in the case of a tenant who pays weekly rent, and in all other cases

8-4  the tenancy is from month to month. The tenant’s continued occupancy is

8-5  on the same terms and conditions as were contained in the rental agreement

8-6  unless specifically agreed otherwise in writing.

8-7    5.  The landlord and tenant may agree to a specific date for termination

8-8  of the agreement. If any provision of this chapter specifies a period of

8-9  notice which is longer than the period of a particular tenancy, the required

8-10  length of the period of notice is controlling.

8-11    Sec. 11.  NRS 40.251 is hereby amended to read as follows:

8-12    40.251  A tenant of real property, a recreational vehicle or a mobile

8-13  home for a term less than life is guilty of an unlawful detainer when having

8-14  leased:

8-15    1.  Real property, except as otherwise provided in this section, or a

8-16  mobile home for an indefinite time, with monthly or other periodic rent

8-17  reserved, he continues in possession thereof, in person or by subtenant,

8-18  without the landlord’s consent after the expiration of a notice of:

8-19    (a) For tenancies from week to week, at least 7 days;

8-20    (b) For all other periodic tenancies, at least 30 days; or

8-21    (c) For tenancies at will, at least 5 days.

8-22    2.  A dwelling unit subject to the provisions of chapter 118A of NRS,

8-23  he continues in possession, in person or by subtenant, without the

8-24  landlord’s consent after expiration of:

8-25    (a) The term of the rental agreement or its termination and, except as

8-26  otherwise provided in paragraph (b), the expiration of a notice of at least 7

8-27  days for tenancies from week to week and 30 days for all other periodic

8-28  tenancies; or

8-29    (b) A notice of at least 5 days where the tenant has failed to perform his

8-30  basic or contractual obligations under chapter 118A of NRS.

8-31    3.  A mobile home lot subject to the provisions of chapter 118B of

8-32  NRS, or a lot for a recreational vehicle in an area of a mobile home park

8-33  other than an area designated as a recreational vehicle lot pursuant to the

8-34  provisions of subsection 6 of NRS 40.215, he continues in possession, in

8-35  person or by subtenant, without the landlord’s consent, after notice has

8-36  been given pursuant to NRS 118B.170 [or] , 118B.190 or section 3 of this

8-37  act and the period of the notice has expired.

8-38    4.  A recreational vehicle lot, he continues in possession, in person or

8-39  by subtenant, without the landlord’s consent, after the expiration of a

8-40  notice of at least 5 days.

8-41    Sec. 12.  Chapter 489 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto a

8-42  new section to read as follows:

8-43    1.  A landlord or manager who:

8-44    (a) Is in compliance with or exempt from the requirements for

8-45  continuing education set forth in NRS 118B.086; and

8-46    (b) Purchases a mobile home that is sold to enforce a lien pursuant to

8-47  NRS 108.270 to 108.360, inclusive,


9-1  may resell the mobile home without being licensed as a dealer pursuant

9-2  to this chapter but in reselling the mobile home shall comply with all

9-3  other applicable provisions of this chapter which pertain to dealers.

9-4    2.  As used in this section:

9-5    (a) “Landlord” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 118B.014.

9-6    (b) “Manager” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 118B.0145.

 

9-7  H