2007 Minnesota Statutes

327C.02 RENTAL AGREEMENTS.
    Subdivision 1. Contents; writing required. Every agreement to rent a lot must be a written
agreement signed by the park owner and the resident. A copy of the rental agreement shall be given
to the applicant for the purpose of reviewing the agreement prior to signing it. The agreement
must specify the terms and conditions in connection with the rental of the lot and must include:
(a) the location of the lot and its address or site number;
(b) the amount of rent per month and a statement of all personal property, services and
facilities which the park owner agrees to provide to the resident;
(c) the rights, duties and obligations of the parties, and all rules applicable to the resident;
(d) the amount of any security deposit or other financial obligation imposed on the resident
by the park owner; and
(e) the name of any person holding a security interest in the resident's home.
    Subd. 2. Modification of rules. The park owner must give the resident at least 60 days'
notice in writing of any rule change. A rule adopted or amended after the resident initially enters
into a rental agreement may be enforced against that resident only if the new or amended rule is
reasonable and is not a substantial modification of the original agreement. Any security deposit
increase is a substantial modification of the rental agreement. A reasonable rent increase made in
compliance with section 327C.06 is not a substantial modification of the rental agreement and
is not considered to be a rule for purposes of section 327C.01, subdivision 8. A rule change
necessitated by government action is not a substantial modification of the rental agreement. A rule
change requiring all residents to maintain their homes, sheds and other appurtenances in good
repair and safe condition shall not be deemed a substantial modification of a rental agreement.
If a part of a resident's home, shed or other appurtenance becomes so dilapidated that repair is
impractical and total replacement is necessary, the park owner may require the resident to make
the replacement in conformity with a generally applicable rule adopted after the resident initially
entered into a rental agreement with the park owner.
In any action in which a rule change is alleged to be a substantial modification of the rental
agreement, a court may consider the following factors in limitation of the criteria set forth
in section 327C.01, subdivision 11:
(a) any significant changes in circumstances which have occurred since the original rule was
adopted and which necessitate the rule change; and
(b) any compensating benefits which the rule change will produce for the residents.
    Subd. 2a. Action to recover possession of land. Notwithstanding section 504B.345, in an
action to recover possession of land for violation of a new or amended rule, if the court finds that
the rule is reasonable or is not a substantial modification, the court shall issue an order in favor of
the plaintiff for costs. The court shall order the defendant to comply with the rule within ten days.
If the resident fails to comply with the rule at any time after the time period provided by the court,
the park owner may, upon a showing to the court that three days' written notice was given to the
resident, move the court for writ of restitution to recover possession of the lot.
    Subd. 3. Service of notices. A park owner may give notice as required by this section or
sections 327C.03 and 327C.09: (a) personally, (b) by mailing the notice to the last known mailing
address of the resident, or (c) by delivering the notice to the home of the resident. Notice by
certified mail is effective even if the resident refuses to accept delivery. Service by delivery to
the resident's home is effective if the notice is left at the home with someone of suitable age and
discretion or is placed in a secure and conspicuous location at the home.
    Subd. 4. Waiver void. Any attempt to waive or circumscribe any privilege or right
guaranteed by law to a resident or a park owner is void.
    Subd. 5. Written notice required. A prospective resident, before being asked to sign a rental
agreement, must be given the following notice printed verbatim in boldface type of a minimum
size of ten points. The notice must be provided with the park residency application. The notice
and the safety feature disclosure form required under section 327C.07, subdivision 3a, must be
posted in a conspicuous and public location in the park:

"IMPORTANT NOTICE

State law provides special rules for the owners, residents, and prospective residents of
manufactured home parks.
You may keep your home in the park as long as the park is in operation and you meet your
financial obligations, obey state and local laws which apply to the park, obey reasonable park
rules, do not substantially annoy or endanger the other residents or substantially endanger park
personnel and do not substantially damage the park premises. You may not be evicted or have your
rent increased or your services cut for complaining to the park owner or to a governmental official.
If you receive an eviction notice and do not leave the park, the park owner may take you
to court. If you lose in court, a sheriff may remove you and your home from the park within
seven days. Or, the court may require you to leave the park within seven days but give you 60
days to sell the home within the park.
If you receive an eviction notice for a new or amended rule and the court finds the rule to be
reasonable and not a substantial modification of your original agreement, the court will not order
you to leave but will order you to comply with the rule within ten days. If you do not comply
within the time given or if you violate the rule at a later time, you will be subject to eviction.
All park rules and policies must be reasonable. Your rent may not be increased more than
twice a year. Changes made in park rules after you become a park resident will not apply to you if
they substantially change your original agreement.
The park may not charge you an entrance fee.
The park may require a security deposit, but the deposit must not amount to more than
two months rent.
You have a right to sell the home in the park. But the sale is not final until the park owner
approves the buyer as a new resident, and you must advise in writing anyone who wants to buy
your home that the sale is subject to final approval by the park owner.
The park must provide to you, in writing, the procedures and criteria used to evaluate a
prospective resident. If your application is denied, you can request, in writing, the reason why.
You must also disclose in writing certain safety information about your home to anyone who
wants to buy it in the park. You must give this information to the buyer before the sale, in writing,
on the form that is attached to this notice. You must completely and accurately fill out the form
and you and the buyer should each keep a copy.
Your rental agreement and the park rules contain important information about your rights
and duties. Read them carefully and keep a copy.
You must be given a copy of the shelter or evacuation plan for the park. This document
contains information on where to seek shelter in times of severe weather conditions. You should
carefully review the plan and keep a copy.
By February 1 of each year, the park must give you a certificate of rent constituting property
taxes as required by Minnesota Statutes, section 290A.19.
For further information concerning your rights, consult a private attorney. The state law
governing the rental of lots in manufactured home parks may also be enforced by the Minnesota
Attorney General."
In addition, the safety feature disclosure form required under section 327C.07, subdivision
3a , must be attached to the notice.
History: 1982 c 526 art 2 s 2; 1983 c 206 s 1; 1984 c 406 s 1; 1984 c 655 art 1 s 58; 1986 c
444; 1987 c 179 s 4,5; 1989 c 282 art 2 s 184; 1994 c 592 s 4; 1997 c 61 s 1; 1999 c 199 art 2 s 10