By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – Several McLean County residents recently filed a lawsuit against a mobile home park for unfair practices.
Last fall, a Texas corporation, Oakwood Properties, purchased five mobile home parks, including Hilltop Mobile Home Park.
Acting on behalf of their clients, Prairie State Legal Services says several residents of Hilltop Mobile Home Park filed a suit against Oak Wood, alleging a violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act.
In the complaint, the residents complain that Oakwood Properties allegedly misled residents when resigning a new lease.
“Mobile home communities are an important source of affordable housing. Many park tenants on fixed or limited incomes own their homes while leasing the lot,” PSLS Senior Staff Attorney, Erin Duncan said in a release. “Because of the difficulty and expense of moving a mobile home from a lot, the Illinois law provides that park owners should only be able to evict tenants for cause, with leases that should automatically renew so long as a tenant has met their leasing obligations and wants to remain.”
The complaint also alleges that the park charged fees the tenants did not agree to and illegally charged increased rent in the middle of a lease term.
Prairie State Legal says Oakdwood also allegedly violated the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Rights Act.
The law firm is aware of several Hilltop tenants who have similar issues.
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].
