FL H0613

Petitions for mediation of mobile home park lot rental disputes must be filed with the Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes for adequacy review, and mobile home owners must provide copies of the petition, written designations, challenged notices, and homeowners' committee records to the park owner by certified mail, return receipt requested.

Park owners have 10 days after receiving a petition to file objections with the division; the division must dismiss petitions that are untimely, deficient, or noncompliant, and must assign a mediator within 10 days of receiving objections if the parties have not mutually selected one.

Parties may mutually agree to select their own mediator as an alternative to division appointment; each party must pay a $250 filing fee to the mediator, and civil action may not be initiated unless the dispute has first been submitted to mediation.

Live-in health care aides (as defined under the federal Fair Housing Act) must have ingress and egress to a mobile home owner's site without the owner or aide being charged additional rent or fees, though the mobile home owner must pay for any required background check and is responsible for removing the aide and covering associated costs if necessary.

The Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes is directed to adopt rules to implement the act, which takes effect July 1, 2024.