Rent at Shady Lakes has increased repeatedly since the park was purchased by Stockton-based Harmony Communities in April 2019, from $395 including utilities to $610 not including utilities come next May. For a resident who was paying $395 a month for a site, they are now paying $690, not including water and trash, which at one time was included in the price to keep a home at the park. In the deposition process, it came out that the rent increase is part of Harmony Communities business practice to bring the property up to market rates, said Thompson. Mason said other tenants are more hesitant to speak out than she is, fearing retaliation in the form of even steeper rent hikes. Rent increases are done on an annual basis and are generally in line with inflation. With 42 communities and over 10,000 sites across North America, we have what you're looking for! $("#paoc-modal-1").bind("contextmenu",function(e) { In total the supervisors are expected to hear seven GPAs by the end of this year, including Newland Sierra, a 2,135-unit development in Twin Oaks Valley north of Escondido and possibly the 1,746-unit Lilac Hills Ranch project in Valley Center. All Rights Reserved. It is not a recreational vehicle park, subject to a different statutory scheme, he wrote. Judge: Ross, Roger. Ultimately what happens is residents are responsible for upholding their own rights and seeking judicial adjudication of their rights, which is very difficult because mobile home residents are some of the most vulnerable populations, and do not have access to the legal system, normally, she said. var $ = jQuery, BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period. Some are buying less food, not using electricity, cutting services, shopping for clothes less often. Harmony also implemented oppressive, unreasonable rules in the park. Residents are prohibited from having anything outside of their home except barbeques, patio furniture, and bicycles. } Residents say the proprietor, Harmony Communities of Stockton, is seeking steep increases at the neighborhood, which is at 742 Francisco Blvd. Professional Services He insists the changes being made are necessary to prevent another tragedy at the park. At a time when local news is more important than ever, support from our readers is essential. According to a release, the lawsuit is being filed to protect public safety, defend the integrity of the Countys General Plan and demand supervisors get serious about affordable housing.. While Harmony increased rent, they failed to fix an issue with the on-site wastewater system, forcing residents to pay higher rent while suffering with the overwhelming smell of sewage. Judge: Ross, Roger. if(e.which === 123){ What that means is that there is sort of a justice gap where other types of renters in the state are able to get these very important protections, the mobile home parks are left in a different situation, she said. Harmony immediately raised space rent by $130.00a 32% increase that made rents unaffordable to families living in the park. There are programs that help mobile home residents secure financing. Construction Judge: Waters, Robert T.. I have tried to appeal to the builder to no avail. San Rafael, low-income tenants resist rent, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), San Rafael, low-income tenants resist rent hikes at site, Former owner of central Marin City market dead at 80, Golden Gate Village residents to benefit from $2 million fund, Marin environmental groups seek redo of Sausalito school creek plan, Bay Area job cuts: Planned closure of BJ's in San Rafael adds to growing numbers, Novato man accused of Marin drugstore robberies, New San Rafael caf and bakery a sweet addition, Belvedere residents sound alarm over coyote danger, Housing plan near San Quentin clears environmental study, Larkspur man pleads not guilty to murder attempt, Marin History Museum board appoints new director, Marin County rain gives way to cold, clear break, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 2023, International Association of Better Business Bureaus, Inc., separately incorporated Better Business Bureau organizations in the US, Canada and Mexico and BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, Inc. All rights reserved. All rights reserved, Burnum MHP, Cobble Hill, British Columbia, Shawnigan Lake MHP, Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, Timberland MHP, Ladysmith, British Columbia, Foothills Mobile Home Park, Oroville, California, Village of North Oak, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Indian Trail North , Burtchville, Michigan, Hanwell Community, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Kellys Community, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Maritime Estates, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Nethervue Community, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Edgewood Grove Estates, Somerset, Pennsylvania, Mill Creek Estates, New Holland, Pennsylvania, Gaslite Manor MHC, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Why is this public record being published online? A complaint was filed with the California Public Utilities Commission that the increases were not in line with actual costs. An attorney representing the residents said the case highlights the disparity in housing protections faced by mobile home residents. Utility payments are one example of a variable cost for property owners. Family of man killed in Trail's End Mobile Home Park fire files wrongful death lawsuit, Trails End takeover: City of Fresno now controls conditions at mobile home park, Fresno woman involved in mobile home fire calling for change. The Elfin Forest Harmony Grove Town Council has initiated litigation against the San Diego County Board of Supervisors for its approval of the Harmony Grove Village South and Valiano housing projects. DocketAttorney, Sanjay Bansal, retained for Donna Braxton . West. But it's a tough process. Natalie Hanson reports on breaking news, police and fire and criminal justice. Attorney, Sanjay Bansal, retained for Donna Braxton . Public Records Policy. The builder is not even trying to work with me to give me some of the money back.I feel this is an unfair business practice and I will continue to pursue my ******* money. Additionally, residents said the company refuses to provide any documents in Spanish, which their attorneys says is required by law, according to the lawsuit. A complaint was filed with the California Public Utilities Commission that the increases were not in line with actual costs. Our attorneys are reviewing the document submitted by the tenants counsel, but we believe the claims are unfounded. CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE, INC. With the legal action, the united rural communities of Harmony Grove, Elfin Forest and Eden Valley will question whether the projects were approved in violation of county and state fire code regulations. The Rancho Santa Fe Association board last week said it would not move forward in joining a lawsuit or filing its own legal action. DocketNotice of Case Assignment and Scheduling Information. In San Rafael in 2022, Harmony Communities sent notices to residents that they were closing the park. Hearing Result: Vacated Judge: Waters, Robert T.. Case status updated to Disposed. Hearing regarding: Case Management Conference , set for 05/04/2021 at 8:30 AM before Hon. What will change? Merrifield has been an expert witness in several cases where property owners requested increases for properties in cities that have mobile home rent control ordinances. Beverly Mason, a resident in the neighborhood for about 20 years, said she thinks the owners were trying to get around the ordinance and raise rents quietly. Its insanity, this notion of being able to increase the rent just obscene in my opinion, Mason said. |, Shady Lakes highlights challenges for mobile home park residents, Sting operation leads to recovery of stolen bees, Experts: Nut prices, not water, account for swing in ag land values, Report: Tourism spending spikes in Central Valley, Amazon to open Fresno fulfillment center, create 2,500 jobs, WordPress Download Manager - Best Download Management Plugin. BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. The city and the residents say otherwise. I noticed the model variation was wrong and voiced my concern. Harmony says they are recreational vehicles and thus exempt from a city rent control ordinance covering mobile or manufactured homes. Retail The management company also instituted 29 rules, which were described in the lawsuit as burdensome, unreasonable, oppressive, and unnecessary.. explains why any relief sought by the complainant cannot or should not be granted. My parents, who have lived at the park for many years, are elderly farmworkers[they] leave their shoes and clothing outside in order to avoid pesticide exposure inside of our home. As of late January, developers filed 26 applications to build 8,642 new homes under California's three-decade-old builder's remedy provision, setting aside 1,795 of those as low-income units. BBB reports on known marketplace practices. }); [ Placeholder content for popup link ] The Judge overseeing this case is Cullers, Mark. The county is limited to four General Plan amendments a year but a single amendment may include multiple sub-items, referred to as batching. Ms. Jaymie Buchholz, Customer Service Specialist, Ms. Jan Scarborough, Marketing Coordinator. Harmony Communities, Inc. vs. Rufino Hernandez, Larsen, Austin vs Harmony Communities, Inc. et al. *In Canada, trademark(s) of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, used under License. Shady Lakes is a small company, without the resources or ability to undertake a task of translating hundreds of pages of documents. Over the past two years, the . Aug. 28, 2018 10 AM PT. Judge: Ross, Roger. Yet this group of four supervisors choked and did not have the political will when they had the tool and the chance to require housing the average North County resident could afford, Arsivaud said. 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