Active Manufactured Home Owners Association has prepared a Discussion Paper on Land Rented for Housing intended for use in meetings with the Provincial Government. The Paper outlines the need for a more comprehensive Act than the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act, the benefits of change as well as some interim measures to protect this vulnerable segment of affordable housing and those owning it.

This Paper has been circulated to both the Liberal and New Democratic Parties and is being made available to the general public through this website. For your information, this is the message that accompanied the package sent to the politicians:

The loss of affordable housing in manufactured home parks is a common problem across Canada. BC has always been a province that looks to the future providing modern legislation that can be a model for other provinces. Unfortunately, our Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act does not fall into this category. To assist in remedying this flaw, our Association has put together the attached Discussion Paper on Land Rented for Housing. Those who rent land for housing have a civic responsibility to deal fairly with those persons they have encouraged to become co-investing partners in this type of affordable housing business. Since this social conscience appears to be missing, it is the responsibility of government to provide legislation to protect the vulnerable. The type and value of homes in modern parks as well as the financial, emotional and medical issues faced by all manufactured home owners losing or threatened with the loss of their homes makes it imperative to undertake this legislation immediately.

The attached Discussion Paper is intended to facilitate a dialogue between government and manufactured home owner Associations that will lead to a modern Act dealing with Land Rented for Housing but also proposes some interim measures. In order to keep the Paper to a reasonable length, we have only touched the surface of issues. More research and discussions with us will bring to light additional information. We suggest a series of meetings to discuss the various aspects of the problems and arrive at solutions.

Any legislation being proposed should be given to home owner Associations dedicated to improving conditions in British Columbia's home parks before finalization and introduction into the legislature. We realize it is a Ministerial Prerogative to make a surprise presentation of legislation in the legislature but in cases like this one, it could lead to problems not foreseen by those not living and experiencing life on Land Rented for Housing.

The attached Discussion Paper on Land Rented for Housing is also endorsed by:

• Surrey and District Manufactured Home Owners Association
• Penticton and District Manufactured Home Owners Association

For your information, we will be posting responses and progress on our website from time to time, as we get a lot of requests information from across BC and Canada on this issue. We look forward to hearing from you regarding what your intentions are to deal with this Discussion Paper.