What You Should Look Out For
No matter how big or small your home is, we can all agree that we are entitled to live in a safe and healthy environment. Despite mobilehome park owners' efforts to upgrade, restore, and maintain the quality of their lots and common areas, some conditions may be overlooked.
However, there are five safety hazards that should be considered non-negotiable when deciding your tenancy. Here is what to look for:
Dysfunctional Sewage Systems
Living in a park with a dysfunctional sewage system can be messy. With the increased probability of leaks and spills, a landlord could be risking the health of the people, plants, and animals in the area.
Under California law, sewage cannot be anywhere near a public street/sidewalk or storm drains without being considered a public health emergency. If the park owner does not properly maintain sewage systems, they may be held liable for any spills that occur and potentially face severe legal consequences.
Unsafe Water
A 2012 bill approved by the Governor of California states that everyone has a right to "safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes". Since then, the state has been working with agencies to develop a way to regulate and provide this right.
Even though this is technically a law, the possibility of mobilehome park management companies not being able to provide what would be considered 'safe' water still remains. It's important to know that not having clean water could cause significant damage to one's health and overall wellbeing.
Pest Control
Due to the lack of a secured foundation, it can be a lot easier for pests to find their way underneath the mobilehome. Ones that have been known to cause significant damage include:
- Termites
- Cockroaches
- Rodents
- Possums
Since rodents and possums are likely to carry disease and termites can ruin a mobile home's structural integrity, it's crucial that park owners provide adequate pest control policies and/or services.
Inadequate Security and Unsafe Common Areas
Tenants can be put at risk if a park doesn't have adequate safety measures in place or does not keep up with routine maintenance to retain safe common areas. When deciding where to live, keep these in the back of your mind:
- If the park has a pool, it legally should have a fence surrounding it.
- Proper lighting should be set up throughout the property.
- If you’re renting, check to make sure there are appropriate locks on all doors and windows.
These are just a few of the safety precautions that should be considered.
Dysfunctional Electrical Systems
From unstable outlets to poorly wired circuits, dysfunctioning electrical systems should be on your list of things to ask about when moving in. These are critical to inspect because they run the risk of causing electrocutions, outages, and fires.
Your safety should be a top concern for any landlord. If you think that your mobilehome park conditions are conducive to injuries, contact an attorney.
Trust the Chico Mobilehome Park Lawyers
Peters, Habib, McKenna, Juhl-Rhodes & Cardoza, LLP has dedicated themselves to protecting mobilehome park tenants against negligent management companies. If you or a loved one has sustained an injury from living in a Chico mobilehome, contact our office to schedule a consultation.