DE HB234

Market rent comparisons must be conducted on a community-to-community basis rather than lot-to-lot basis, and comparable communities cannot be owned by the same principals.

Delaware Manufactured Home Relocation Authority may request lists of affected homeowners and addresses from community owners when homeowners are not identified by name in rent increase notices.

Community owners proposing rent increases above the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) must recommend meeting dates, times, and places to the Authority, which shall affirm if found reasonable.

Homeowners or homeowners associations may petition for nonbinding arbitration within 30 days after an informal meeting fails to resolve a disputed rent increase, with each party paying $250 toward arbitrator fees.

Act becomes effective for all leases as they are subject to renewal on or after November 30, 2013.