CI
TY OF SIMI VALLEY
MEMORANDUM
Mar
ch 18, 2024
TO: Cit
y Council
FR
OM: Department of Environmental Services
SUBJECT: RECEIVE AND F ILE THE MOBILE HOME RENT M EDIATION BOARD ANNUAL STATUS REPORT FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2023
RECOMMENDATION
The Mobile Home Rent Mediation Board recommends that the City Council receive and file the Mobile Home Rent Mediation Board Annual Status Report for Calendar Year 2023.
BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW
The Mobile Home Rent Mediation Board (Board) was established by City Council Resolution No. 83 -31 to provide a forum to help resolve rent disputes in mobile home parks within the City. Subsequent resolutions have refined the role of the Board and established the Planning Commission as the Board. As detailed in the most recent resolution (Resolution No. 2013 -57), the Board act s in an advisory capacity, which may include taking action to assist in the settlement of rental disputes between management and tenants. The Board is required to submit an annual status report on its activities and the rental and vacancy rates for the five mobile home parks within its jurisdiction to the City Council each year, pursuant t
o Resolution No. 2013-57.
FINDINGS AND ALTERNATIVES
On February 21, 2024, the Board reviewed its Annual Status Report for Calendar Y
ear 2023 (Attachment A, page 3) and approved it for submission to the City Council. The Board received no petition requests regarding rent adjustments in 2023.
The overall response from the five mobile home parks, within the Board’s pur view, suggests that the mobile home housing sector continues to experience high demand and low supply, and is a v ery small portion of all housing stock within the City. While the overall cost of mobile home living is rising, it is still one of the most affordable housing options in this high-cost area for lower-income households and for those living on a fixed income.
Since last year’s report, there has been an increase in concerns brought to the City by mobile home park residents. However, the concerns have largely fallen outs ide the purview of the City as they relate to the maintenance of the parks, the sale of mobile homes, and rents of new tenants. Mobile home parks are largely regulated by the California Department of Housing and Community Development. As a result, the City has updated its website to include resources for mobile home residents including
MobileHomeStatusReportCCmtg3-18-24(klk)
AGENDA ITEM NO.
Consent (2)
MobileHomeStatusReportCCmtg3-18-24(klk)
landlord/tenant resources, a link to the State’s Housing and Community Development page, the City’s Mobile Home Rent Mediation Board and Hearing Procedures Resolution (Resolution No. 2013- 57), the application and procedures to request mediation by the Board, as well as prior year’s Mobile Home Rent Mediation Board Annual Status Reports.
City staff will be reaching out to mobile home parks and their residents to inform them of the additional information available and answer questions about the Board and its role in rent disputes.
The following alternatives are available to the City Council:
1. Receive and file the Mobile Home Rent Mediation Board Annual Status Report for Calendar Year 2023;
2. Provide staff with further direction.
The Board recommends Alternative No. 1.
SUGGESTED CITY COUNCIL MOTION
I move to receive and file the Mobile Home Rent Mediation Board Annual Status Report for Calendar Year 2023.
SUMMARY
On February 21, 202 4, the Mobile Home Rent Mediation Board approved its Annual Status Report for submission to the City Council. The Board had no activity during the reporting period. It is recommended that the City Council receive and file the Board’s Annual Status for Calendar Year 2023.
Stratis Perros
Environmental Services Director
Prepared by: Daniel Franco, Management Analyst
INDEX
Page
Attachment A - MHRMB Annual Status Report for CY 2023 ......................................... 3
2 ATTACHMENT A
MobileHomeStatusReportCCmtg3-18-24(klk)
MOBILE HOME RENT MEDIATION BOARD
ANNUAL STATUS REPORT FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2023
1. Board Activities
The Board received no petitions requesting rent adjustments in 2023. As part of the annual review, City staff sent out a survey to identify changes in mobile home space and unit count, c hanges in unoccupied space and unit count, range of monthly rental rates , and the average of individual space rents. The five mobile home parks within the Board’s purview responded to the City’s survey, reporting their vacancy and space rental rates for calendar year 2023.
This housing sector continues to experience high demand with very little supply.
Mobile homes constitute just two percent of all housing stock within the City. While the overall cost for mobile home housing options is steadily rising, it is still among the most affordable housing opti ons in this high -cost area for lower -income households, including those with a fixed income. To assist in maintaining mobile home parks as an affordable and viable housing option, the State of California continues to implement new housing laws to improve services and programs provided through the Mobile Home Assistance Center.
2. Mobile Home Park Vacancy Rates
At the time of the survey, three (3) mobile homes w ere reported vacant across three (3) mobile home parks, resulting in an overall vacancy rate of approximately
0.4 percent. The vacancy rate is determined by the number of unoccupied mobile homes in the five mobile home parks . It is not inclusive of vacant spaces not containing mobile homes.
Table 1 – Vacancy Rates (as of December 31, 2023)
Mobile Home
Park
Number of
Spaces
Developed
Acres
Vacant
Mobile
Homes
Current
Vacancy Rate
Vacant
Spaces
Friendly Village 222 25.9 0 0.0% 0
Trade Winds 100 9.2 0 0.0% 0
Crest 41 3.9 1 2.4% 0
Simi Country 274 33.4 1 0.4% 0
Susana Woods 139 20.2 1 0.7% 0
Overall 776 92.6 3 0.4% 0
3 MobileHomeStatusReportCCmtg3-18-24(klk)
3. Mobile Home Rental Rates
The average rental rate, across all mobile home parks, is approximately $842.64, or $81.39 above the prior year. This represents approximately a 9.66% increase, which is less than three times the prior year’s increase of 3.46%. This annual rent adjustment is typical and reasonable to allow park owners to maintain and manage their properties and pay their debt service.
Table 2 – Range of Monthly Rental Rates by Park (as of December 31, 2023)
Friendly Village Trade Winds Crest Simi Country Susana Woods 2023 $545.52 to
$1,005.00
$530.24 to
$1,130.00
$494.00 to
$1,500.00
$374.00 to
$1,650.00
$374.00 to
$1,550.00
2022 $534.52 to
$990.00
$492.79 to
$1,050.00
$384.00 to
$1,400.00
$374.00 to
$1,450.00
$374.00 to
$1,450.00
2021 $523.52 to
$975.00
$453.79 to
$975.00
$303.00 to
$1,200.00
$374.00 to
$1,350.00
$374.00 to
$1,350.00
2020 $512.52 to
$955.00
$434.79 to
$950.00
$242.00 to
$1,100.00
$374.00 to
$1,150.00
$374.00 to
$1,100.00
2019 $502.52 to
$945.00
$407.04 to
$925.00
$230.00 to
$795.00
$374.00 to
$1,150.00
$374.00 to
$1,150.00
2018 $494.52 to
$945.00
$372.13 to
$825.00
$230.00 to
$795.00
$374.00 to
$1,050.00
$374.00 to
$1,050.00
Table 3 - Average Rental Rates by Park (as of December 31, 2023)
Friendly Village Trade Winds Crest Simi Country Susana Woods 2023 $850.00 $905.40 $997.00 $825.00 $775.00
2022 $860.61 $850.13 $877.00 $625.00 $775.00
2021 $800.00 $799.20 $830.00 $625.00 $775.00
2020 $801.23 $776.46 $673.79 $625.00 $775.00
2019 $775.00 $666.02 $562.00 $625.00 $625.00
2018 $759.93 $645.64 $558.00 $775.00 $626.00
4 MobileHomeStatusReportCCmtg3-18-24(klk)
4. Locations of Mobile Home Parks
The following map identifies the locations of the five mobile home parks within the Board’s purview.
5