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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW New Oregon wildfires lead to evacuation notices in 2 places ... Owner of dogs that mauled terrier wants speedy trial; dogs still held ... 10 Dems vie for Bates' Senate seat ... New Oregon wildfires lead to evacuation notices in 2 places ... Owner of dogs that mauled terrier wants speedy trial; dogs still held ... 10 Dems vie for Bates' Senate seat ... OUR VIEW Our View: Fixed incomes meet rising rents Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 17, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Aug. 17, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Residents of local manufactured home parks owned by an out-of-state company are finding out the hard way that their parks are not the secure, long-term housing option they once were. Space rents are increasing, and some tenants fear being forced out with nowhere to go. Manufactured homes are a popular choice for many retirees and others because they can be purchased for considerably less than a conventional home, giving the buyer the advantages of home ownership at less cost. But unless the buyer also owns the land the home sits on, they must rent space in a park, leaving them at the mercy of a landlord after all. As long as space rent and utility rates remain at reasonable levels, a manufactured home park can be a good choice, especially for seniors living on Social Security and not much else. But when the park owner imposes rent increases that price residents out, what was an affordable option becomes more like a trap. Residents who own the home they live in can theoretically move it to another park with lower rent, but many homes are not really movable after they have been in place for a number of years. Even if they can be moved, fees for doing so can run to thousands of dollars — assuming a more affordable space is available. State law does give park residents some rights in these situations. They can form a park committee to meet with owners and address concerns, but those concerns don't include rent increases. If an owner closes a park, tenants are entitled to compensation intended to cover the costs of moving their home. But if the rent just goes up, tenants have little recourse. The owner in the news this week, Investment Property Group Inc., operates five parks in Jackson County. IPG says most tenants are seeing rent increases in the neighborhood of $10 to $15 a year, but some tenants say their rents have gone up much faster. IPG has offered to meet with tenants to address concerns about new long-term leases residents are being asked to sign, but the tenants may not have much leverage. Park owners are entitled to earn a fair return on their investment, and park residents need not stay if they don't like the terms. But many residents may not be able to afford to leave. Legislation to protect park residents has been introduced in Salem over the years, with mixed success. If this most recent round of rent increases gets residents banding together, that could prompt lawmakers to look at this issue again. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 17, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501