- LEGAL RIGHTS
- COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
- LEGISLATIVE ACTION
- COMMUNITY PRESERVATION
- HOUSING DISCRIMINATION
- ELECTION ORGANIZING
- NATIONAL ACTION
- Manufactured Home Relocation Trust Fund
In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S economy has suffered major disruptions. Businesses across the U.S. have faced closures, reduced operations, and increased demand for sick leave and the ability to work from home. People are subject to quarantines and shelter-in-place orders and are struggling with the supply for key consumer goods, which has led to panic buying sprees. Students have seen schools and campuses closed and their school years shortened or changed to at-home online instruction. Medical personnel and health care systems face critically low inventories of key protective equipment and medical devices as requests for health services rise.
Federal, state and local governments have been responding in a variety of ways. Congress passed and the President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. It is noted as the largest single relief package in American history totalling $2 trillion in economic stimulus. Governor Tim Walz declared a Peacetime Emergency and issued an executive order suspending evictions. Even private entities have taken unprecedented steps, such as Minnesota Multi Housing Association issuing guidelines to Minnesota rental housing providers that call upon them to halt evictions, waive late fees, offer flexible payment plans, and cease new rent increases through May 31. With Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison urging renters to report any violations of these emergency actions to his office (Tenant Eviction Complaint Form).
All of these steps are important and beneficial but may be hard to follow and somewhat confusing. This resource was developed to answer some common questions.
Can my park owner evict me?
No. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz declared a Peacetime Emergency. Evictions in Minnesota are on pause during this emergency. Your landlord can’t end your lease or file an eviction case against you right now. The sheriff can’t come remove you from your home. The eviction moratorium does apply to manufactured home park lot rentals. This means that a park can’t evict you for not paying your lot rent.
In addition, the CARES Act provides 120 days of eviction relief for tenants in federally-backed housing. Specifically, you may not be served with an eviction notice until July 25, 2020 and the notice must give you 30 days to leave the property.
During the 120-day eviction moratorium, your landlord may not charge you late fees, penalties, or other charges for paying your rent late. It's important to note that the eviction moratorium does not relieve you of your obligation to pay your rent. It merely forbids your landlord from evicting you during that period for late payment.
The federal government’s temporary moratorium on eviction filings pertains to any rental housing that is:
Can my park owner evict me without going to court?
No. A park owner cannot evict you. Only a judge can. Alandlord must go to court first and follow the law for evictions. A landlord cannot lock you out or do something else to make you leave. You can learn more about the eviction process for manufactured home parks here: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Consumer/Handbooks/HomeParks/CH06.asp
If you believe your rights are being violated and you need legal help, begin by filling out this questionnaire by Law Help MN: https://www.lawhelpmn.org/
Can my manufactured home still be foreclosed on (or, to use the correct term, repossessed)?
Yes. Under Gov. Walz’s executive order, the suspension of home foreclosures does not yet apply to manufactured homes. This means if you are still buying the home, the seller can start a repossession action to take it back and force you out. This is true if you are buying the home from the manufactured home park or somewhere else.
If you are buying your home from the park and can only pay for the home payment and not the rent, write clearly on your payment that the money is for the home payment and not the lot rent. If you pay in cash, give them a letter along with your payment saying that. Make sure it is on your receipt from them too.
If you are buying your home from a party other than the park reach out to your loan servicer as soon as possible, ask for the loss mitigation department, and discuss your options. You can find the number to call on your mortgage bill.
A network of nonprofit Homeownership Advisors offers nonbiased advice to homeowners in Minnesota to help them keep their homes. Find a Homeownership Advisor offering services in your area.
Note: In order to repossess a manufactured home, a seller has to give 30 days’ notice before filing in court.
What should I do if I cannot pay my rent?
Even though evictions are suspended, rent is still due. Here is some general advice:
What if I need help paying for my rent, home loan, or other bills?
CARES Act Direct Payments – Recovery benefits of $1,200 per adult individual ($2,400 for couples filing jointly) and $500 for each child age 16 and under will be automatically sent sometime in April 2020. To receive the full $1,200 ($2,400) your adjusted gross income for 2019 or 2018 must be $75,000 ($150,000 for couples). The amount you get goes down as income rises until it disappears entirely.
CARES Act Tenant-Based Rental Assistance – In terms of help with paying your rent, the CARES Act provides the Department of Housing and Urban Development ( HUD) with an additional $17.4 billion in funding including monies for rent assistance, housing vouchers, public housing, and housing for the elderly. For help contact HUD Rental Assistance.
Fannie Mae Disaster Response Network – Fannie Mae's Disaster Response Network has published a guide for renters affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19). Through the network, HUD-approved housing advisors provide:
Call 877-542-9723 to access the Disaster Response Network.
Expanded Unemployment Benefits
MNsure Special Enrollment Period
Emergency Assistance
Food
Utilities
211.org Social Services Search – United Way sponsored website http://211.org provides an easy-to-use search bar by zip code, or by community and state, to find sources of help with rent as well as many other essential services. Fill in the required information, click "search" and get information about available help.
All forms of media are now dominated with information about the coronavirus, but some less reputable sources are spreading incomplete, misleading, false, or even malicious information. Stay informed but make sure that you are relying on reputable sources and, ideally, confirming the information with at least two sources. A couple of the best sources are the Minnesota Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).