Mobile home owners won't be left out to dry when the park owner decides to sell under a bill that passed through the Senate on Wednesday.
HB48 was already approved by the House and now awaits Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s signature.
The bill requires a nine-month notification to mobile home owners before their lease can be terminated and prohibits rent increases during that time. It also prevents local governments from passing ordinances to close the parks.
At least 13 mobile home parks closed in 10 cities across the state last year, said Rep. Phil Riesen, D-Salt Lake, the bill's sponsor. He said the bill is a compromise that protect both the rights of the mobile home owners as well as the property rights of the park owner.
Sen. Kevin VanTassell, R-Vernal, said the bill provides enough time for the mobile home owners to move their homes before the park closes.
Sen. Dennis Stowell, R-Parowan, said he is worried that mobile home owners will refuse to pay the rent during that nine-month leeway period, since the property owner "won't have much leverage" to force the renter to pay up.
"He probably won't get any rent those nine months," Stowell said.