Attorney General Kane settles with mobile home park owners

HARRISBURG – May 23, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane announced today the settlement of a case against Hilltop Mobile Home Park in State College, PA.

Under the terms of the deal, the owners of the park will pay $26,700 to the Commonwealth. $21,700 will be distributed to residents of the park, and $5,000 will go to the state to pay court costs and attorney’s fees. An additional $10,000 will initially be set aside in case other residents file valid claims in the next 30 days, and this additional fund will be supplemented if valid claims exceed the initial set aside.

In September 2012, the owners of Hilltop announced they would close the mobile home park. However, they did not close it until February 28, 2013. Some of the residents complained to the Office of Attorney General that they were not given payments now required under Pennsylvania law when a park closes.

Pennsylvania law requires that the owners of manufactured home communities which are closing must pay certain relocation expenses of the manufactured home owners in the community, or make certain payments to them if they are unable or unwilling to relocate their manufactured homes.