2016 Delaware Code
Title 25 - Property
CHAPTER 70. MANUFACTURED HOMES AND MANUFACTURED HOME COMMUNITIES
Subchapter I Manufactured Home Owners and Community Owners Act
§ 7020. Manufactured home standards.

(a) Standards for manufactured homes of new tenants. —

(1) A landlord shall adopt reasonable written standards regarding the size, age, quality, appearance, construction, materials and safety features for a manufactured home entering the landlord's manufactured home community.

(2) A landlord may refuse to allow the placement of a manufactured home on a lot in the manufactured home community if the manufactured home does not comply with the reasonable written standards adopted pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section.

(b) Standards for manufactured homes not for sale. — A tenant who is residing in a manufactured home community at the time a standard is promulgated must bring the tenant's own manufactured home into compliance with the standard within 9 years of the promulgation of the standard or be subject to a summary possession proceeding pursuant to Chapter 57 of this title. However, if a change in a manufactured home is necessary to protect life or for other safety reason, the landlord may require that the change be made in less than 9 years. Once work begins on the manufactured home, the necessary change must be completed within a reasonable time.

(c) Standards for manufactured homes for resale or transfer of title and retention in the manufactured home community. —

(1) A landlord shall adopt reasonable written standards regarding the resale or transfer of title of a manufactured home intended for retention in the landlord's manufactured home community. The standards must relate only to appearance, maintenance, safety and compliance with state and local housing, building or health codes, and the 1976 HUD Code. A landlord may not issue standards in which the age of a manufactured home is the exclusive or dominant criterion prohibiting the home from being sold and retained in the community after the sale is consummated.

(2) If a manufactured home does not meet a landlord's written standards for resale or transfer of title and retention in the manufactured home community, a tenant may attempt to bring the home into compliance with the standards. The landlord shall, within 10 days of a written request from the tenant, reevaluate the home in a reasonable and fair manner.

(d) A standard promulgated pursuant to subsection (a), (b) or (c) of this section may not be arbitrarily or capriciously enforced. A landlord may choose not to enforce a standard based upon the documented special needs or hardship of a tenant without waiving the right to the later enforcement of the standard as to that tenant or any other tenant.

(e) A landlord may at any time establish or amend a standard promulgated pursuant to subsection (a), (b) or (c) of this section, but an established or amended standard promulgated pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of this section is not effective until the date specified in the established or amended standard or 60 days after the landlord delivers to the tenant written notice of the established or amended standard, whichever is later.

(1) Within 10 days of the landlord's notice of the established or amended standard, a committee, not to exceed 5 members, may be chosen by any method agreed to by the tenants of the manufactured home community.

(2) The committee shall meet with the landlord at a mutually convenient time and place to discuss the established or amended standard.

(3) At the meeting, the landlord shall disclose and explain all material factors and present any supporting documentation for the established or amended standard.

74 Del. Laws, c. 35, § 2.;