DEMHRA Report for DMHOA April 24th Meeting

Information from March 27, 2025 Meeting and February 13, 2025 Minutes

Chair's Report

The new Trust Fund cap of $20,000,000 will become effective July 1st. The Chair would like the Board members to discuss what the definition of a "parcel" in Chapter 70 is. This was previously discussed, but a few instances have arisen that challenge the meaning of what it actually reflects. At the next meeting we will discuss what is actually proposed, how to define it intelligently, and how we will implement the change.

Executive Director's Report:  

At the last Manufactured Housing Task Force Meeting, the members were given a form and asked to prioritize the items that they believe are most important and least important such as home improvement grants, establishing voucher programs, receivership in chancery court, farmland subdivision, landlord and central services requirements, and grandfathering the existing manufactured home owners to the current rent control system structure. At the next meeting, the committee will prepare a final draft to present to the legislators.

Legal Counsel Report:  

Legal counsel was not in attendance.

Arbitration: (Update on Status of Open Dockets as of 3/27/25):

• Docket 02-2021 (Ridgewood Manor vs. Ridgewood Manor LLC): As of 3/18/25, Mr. Sharp reported that the parties are working on a resolution. An agreement may be reached by the end of the month.

Rent Increase Certification Requests:

There were 36 rent certifications sent out in February. See § 7051A. Rent increase; health or safety violations in Title 25 for additional information.

Update on Parks for Sale:

• Dalton’s MHP – Updated 3/20/25. Park is now sold and the settlement is pending.
• Holly Oak Park – Updated 3/20/25. Park is sold and waiting on the settlement.

Update on Parks Going Through Change in Use as of March 2028:

• Timberlane - There are 16 applications remaining.
• Lazy Pine Retreat - There are 5 remaining.
• Lakeland - There are 10 remaining.
• Lake Forest – There are 19 remaining.
• At our last meeting, the following applications for funds were approved: for Lake Forest Estates one relocatable SW and two non-relocatable SWs for a total of $36,600, for Lakeland eight relocatable SW and two relocatable DWs for a total of $128,000.

Financial Matters: (amounts are rounded to nearest dollar)

• The Trust Fund assessments collected during February totaled $19,476.00, plus interest of $69,391.00. A Trust Fund payment of $164,600 was paid out in March for relocation assistance. The Trust Fund as of February 28th is $14,672,080.00.
• The 2025 Legal Fund Year-to-Date is $29,167.00.
• The February CPI/U was 3.376%, effective March 14th. This would equate to an increase of 5.19% for one-year leases beginning in July and August. The next CPI/U will be out around May 14th.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 17, 2025 at 1:30.  

Our address is 1979 S. State Street in Dover and is opened to the public.

Please visit our website for additional information at demhra.delaware.gov.