SPOKANE – A new state government program is helping resolve disputes between manufactured home owners and their landlords. A statewide tour titled “Don’t Move It; Solve It,” includes three stops this month in Eastern Washington to educate homeowners and landlords about their legal rights and how the Attorney General’s Office can help them resolve problems.“We’re promoting stable housing communities in Washington by providing access to justice and ensuring compliance with the law,” Attorney General Rob McKenna said. “This program will help tenants and landlords resolve many disputes without spending thousands of dollars on private attorneys.”
Staff from the Attorney General’s Manufactured Housing Dispute Resolution Program will conduct a presentation and answer questions during three forums:
- SPOKANE: Tuesday, May 13, NW Museum of Art & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave., 99201, Auditorium of the Cheney Cowles Center. Parking facility available.
- PASCO: Wednesday, May 14, Columbia Basin Community College, 2600 N. 20th Ave, 99301, Multi-Purpose Facility of “H” Building. Enter parking lot from Argent St.
- YAKIMA: Thursday, May 15, Yakima Valley Community College, 1000 S. 12th Ave, 98902, Parker Room of the Deccio Higher Education Center (off Larson Park). Parking at 12th & Arlington.
- Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the programs begin at 7 p.m. No registration is required.
The new program provides an opportunity for the state’s more than 60,000 homeowners and owners of nearly 1,400 communities to file complaints with the Attorney General’s Office. Staff in Seattle take complaints, provide informal dispute resolution and, when appropriate, investigate and issue fines for noncompliance with the state Mobile/Manufactured Home Landlord-Tenant Act. Officials said they believe the program provides a balanced approach.
Since the program began in July 2007, staff have handled more than 700 phone calls from manufactured homeowners and park owners. They’ve also received more than 200 requests for dispute resolution; about two-thirds of those have been resolved so far. Funding for the program comes from fees paid to the Department of Licensing by landlords who register manufactured/mobile home communities. Landlords may charge each homeowner a maximum of $5 per year for this assessment.
To learn more about the Manufactured Housing Dispute Resolution Program or request dispute resolution services, visit the program Web site at www.atg.wa.gov/MHDR.aspx, e-mail MHDR (at) atg.wa (dot) gov or call 1-866-924-6458 or 206-464-6049.
