Gives mobile home residents a right of first refusal to buy or lease their park, requiring owners to notify the residents’ association and the Department of Business Regulation of bona fide offers and allow time to match the terms.

Rhode Island Mobile Home Park Right of First Refusal Bill

This bill would give residents of mobile home parks in Rhode Island a special opportunity to buy or lease their park before it can be sold or leased to someone else. Specifically, if a mobile home park owner receives a serious, legitimate offer from an outside buyer or lessee, they would be required to notify both the residents' association and the state's Department of Business Regulation. The residents would then have a set period of time to come together and match the same terms being offered by the outside party.

The bill primarily affects people who live in mobile home parks and rent the land their homes sit on. For many of these residents, their home is a major financial investment, but they have little control over what happens if their park is sold to a new owner who might raise rents, change rules, or redevelop the land entirely. By giving residents a "right of first refusal," this bill would provide them a chance to collectively purchase or lease their own community before losing it to an outside buyer. Park owners would also be affected, as they would face new notification requirements and would need to pause any sale or lease process to allow residents time to respond.

Currently, the bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island House of Representatives and referred to the House Municipal Government & Housing Committee. The committee has recommended holding the bill for further study, meaning it has not yet moved forward to a full vote. A hearing is scheduled for March 31, 2026, where the bill may receive additional consideration.