SB412 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Manufactured homes, rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants in manufactured home communities, specified, Alabama Manufactured Home Landlord-Tenant Act

Summary

SB412 creates a dedicated Alabama Manufactured Home Landlord-Tenant Act to govern rights and duties of landlords and tenants in manufactured home communities.

What This Bill Does

It defines terms and applies to manufactured home communities with four or more lots. It requires landlords to fully disclose all fees, charges, assessments, and rules before occupancy and to provide written rules; undisclosed charges cannot be collected and cannot be used to evict a tenant. It sets procedures for eviction, disposal of abandoned property, and adoption or enforcement of community rules, and establishes remedies for breaches, along with protections for the habitability warranty, security deposits, late rent penalties, and casualty loss issues.

Who It Affects

• Tenants who own a manufactured home and rent a lot in a manufactured home community (benefits from disclosures, habitability protections, security deposit rules, eviction procedures, and dispute remedies).
• Landlords and managers of manufactured home communities (duties to disclose fees/rules, adopt and enforce rules, manage evictions and disposal of abandoned property, and handle community sales and casualty losses).

Key Provisions

• Landlords must fully disclose all fees, charges, assessments, and rules before occupancy; undisclosed charges cannot be collected and cannot be used to evict a tenant.
• Landlords may adopt or amend rules; rules become part of the lease; a 30-day notice is required for new rules; if compliance requires more than $25, tenants get up to 90 days to comply.
• There are restrictions on removing manufactured homes and on selling the community; removal standards cover exterior and structural aspects; the landlord must prove noncompliance; age of the home or NMH standards alone cannot justify removal.
• If the owner receives an offer to sell the community, they must give tenants 45 days’ written notice; during this period no sale contract can be signed; a covenant can be included to prohibit changing the use of the community for two years after transfer.
• Abandoned personal property after eviction must be handled with notice and a defined process for disposal or sale; lienholders have notice and certain rights to reclaim or be paid from sale proceeds.
• Security deposits are capped at three months’ rent; deposits must be returned or an itemized withholding statement provided within 21 days; wrongful withholding can lead to double damages and attorney’s fees.
• Landlords and tenants have a warranty of habitability; tenants can sue for breach, and courts can order repairs, rent adjustments, or termination in appropriate cases; waivers of rights under the act are generally void.
• Late rent penalties are allowed but capped at 10% of one month’s rent, with a 15-day grace period; notices about penalties must be provided at lease signing.
• The act addresses casualty loss, allowing either party to terminate or adjust rent if the property is unusable or totally unusable, with pro rata refunds or relocation considerations.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Manufactured Homes