Mobile Home Park Owners, Residents Clash Over Measure to Phase Out Rent Control

Oceanside mobile home owners, including some veterans, are facing the possibility that rent control which has kept housing affordable for nearly 30 years may soon be phased out.

On Wednesday, the City Council is expected to take a final vote on a proposal that would lift the ceiling on semi-guaranteed leases for mobile home owners. The vacancy decontrol measure would allow park owners to raise fees whenever a mobile home unit changes owners.

The measure advanced after gaining a preliminary 3-2 decision at the council's May 4 meeting, where dozens of people on each side of the issue offered sometimes heated testimony. 

Residents say mobile homes are investments as they are fixed units that cannot easily be relocated. Imposing vacancy decontrol would affect these properties as the landowner could increase lease fees should current residents relocate and sell or rent their property.

Opponents say vacancy decontrol will hurt seniors, veterans and those on low-income assistance who own mobile homes and rely on rent control to preserve the value of their property.

Land and park owners argue the current controls are unfair for businesses and that current mobile home owners would not be affected.

The council meeting on Wednesday is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. in .