News
Concerns aired over trailer park safety
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
After taking a tour of Benson last week, officials of the Arizona Association of Manufactured Homes & R.V. Owners said they are concerned about safety issues and whether or not tenants' rights are being violated.
Ruben Montalvo, the District 4 Director of AAMHO, said they don't come to an area unless they are invited, and they received that invitation from Benson resident Niles Hansen. Hansen has been in a court battle with former City Councilwoman Dianne Tipton for the last year. Tipton was awarded judgment.
Tipton, who was recently recalled, is the manager of two manufactured home parks in the city.
Hansen has always maintained that his rights, as per Arizona Revised Statutes Title 33, Chapter 11, the Mobile Home Parks Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, have been violated.
Montalvo said after being invited to look into the matter, he and partner Constance O'Brien toured all the manufactured home parks in town, and are now very concerned with their findings.
"There are procedures and codes that must be followed in these parks," Montalvo said. "As per the Arizona Revised Statutes, if there are four or more mobile homes in the park, it is not an R.V. Park. The owners can call it whatever they want, but they are not R.V. parks and they fall under the landlord tenant acts."
Montalvo said from code violations with electric and water lines to old sewer lines, there are plenty of problems in Benson, and many tenants don't even know that there are laws set up to help them.
Montalvo was particularly concerned with the power lines being located near water lines, noting that he has served in cases where mobile home residents have been electrocuted because of the unsafe situations.
The two have since met with Interim City Manager Glenn Nichols to discuss how to move forward. The two also met with Fire Chief Keith Spangler to discuss how to address the issues.
"There is a real need in Benson to raise public awareness, and let tenants know there is help out there," Montalvo said. "Even residents on a fixed income need to know that legal aid is available."
Besides requiring park owners to adhere to state law on safety and code restrictions, O'Brien said there is concern over whether or not park residents are being treated fairly once they bring these concerns up to park managers and owners.
"Some of these residents face the threat of eviction any time there is a disagreement," Montalvo said. "What they need to know is that is called retaliatory action, and they are protected under state law."
With every rental or lease agreement, Montalvo said, the property owner has a responsibility to supply residents with a copy of the landlord and tenant act. However, many of them do not.
While they are just starting to address the issues facing the Benson community, Montalvo said the first order of business is getting to residents and letting them know there is help available.
O'Brien and Montalvo plan to have a booth at the Butterfield Stage Days celebration on Oct. 11, and will also be hosting some educational events at the Benson Senior Center on Union Street.
In the meantime, manufactured home owners with questions can call Montalvo at 520-490-7111.
After taking a tour of Benson last week, officials of the Arizona Association of Manufactured Homes & R.V. Owners said they are concerned about safety issues and whether or not tenants' rights are being violated.
Ruben Montalvo, the District 4 Director of AAMHO, said they don't come to an area unless they are invited, and they received that invitation from Benson resident Niles Hansen. Hansen has been in a court battle with former City Councilwoman Dianne Tipton for the last year. Tipton was awarded judgment.
Tipton, who was recently recalled, is the manager of two manufactured home parks in the city.
Hansen has always maintained that his rights, as per Arizona Revised Statutes Title 33, Chapter 11, the Mobile Home Parks Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, have been violated.
Montalvo said after being invited to look into the matter, he and partner Constance O'Brien toured all the manufactured home parks in town, and are now very concerned with their findings.
"There are procedures and codes that must be followed in these parks," Montalvo said. "As per the Arizona Revised Statutes, if there are four or more mobile homes in the park, it is not an R.V. Park. The owners can call it whatever they want, but they are not R.V. parks and they fall under the landlord tenant acts."
Montalvo said from code violations with electric and water lines to old sewer lines, there are plenty of problems in Benson, and many tenants don't even know that there are laws set up to help them.
Montalvo was particularly concerned with the power lines being located near water lines, noting that he has served in cases where mobile home residents have been electrocuted because of the unsafe situations.
The two have since met with Interim City Manager Glenn Nichols to discuss how to move forward. The two also met with Fire Chief Keith Spangler to discuss how to address the issues.
"There is a real need in Benson to raise public awareness, and let tenants know there is help out there," Montalvo said. "Even residents on a fixed income need to know that legal aid is available."
Besides requiring park owners to adhere to state law on safety and code restrictions, O'Brien said there is concern over whether or not park residents are being treated fairly once they bring these concerns up to park managers and owners.
"Some of these residents face the threat of eviction any time there is a disagreement," Montalvo said. "What they need to know is that is called retaliatory action, and they are protected under state law."
With every rental or lease agreement, Montalvo said, the property owner has a responsibility to supply residents with a copy of the landlord and tenant act. However, many of them do not.
While they are just starting to address the issues facing the Benson community, Montalvo said the first order of business is getting to residents and letting them know there is help available.
O'Brien and Montalvo plan to have a booth at the Butterfield Stage Days celebration on Oct. 11, and will also be hosting some educational events at the Benson Senior Center on Union Street.
In the meantime, manufactured home owners with questions can call Montalvo at 520-490-7111.
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