RESIDENTS at a tiny home village have been waiting to be handed eviction notices from landlords in order to take them to court.
Tenants at Lake Bradford Estates, a mobile home park in Tallahassee, Florida, want to take legal action over rent increases and poor living conditions.
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Melanie Payne-Powell has lived at the park for 33 years and bought her mobile home in 1997 with money from her husband's death.
Now, the widow is concerned about being forced back to a life of homelessness following two recent rental increases.
She told local CBS affiliate WCTV: "I bought that mobile home with my husband's death money so I could keep a roof over our heads.
"I was homeless 35 years ago. I don't ever wanna do that again.
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"I don't wanna go. I'm not gonna go without a fight."
Payne-Powell lives on a fixed income like many of her neighbors at the park.
She explained to the news outlet how her rent has been increased twice within one calendar year.
Residents claim that as such, park owners Homes of America have violated the protections under Florida's Mobile Home Act.
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According to Chapter 723 of the 2021 Floria Statutes: "The rental agreement must contain the lot rental amount and services included.
"An increase in lot rental amount shall not be arbitrary or discriminatory between similarly situated tenants in the park.
"A lot rental amount may not be increased during the term of the lot rental agreement, except:
"When the manner of the increase is disclosed in a lot rental agreement with a term exceeding 12 months and which provides for such increases not more frequently than annually."
Payne-Powell explained how she is refusing to pay the new price of $750 for the lot rental and how she has no other choice.
"I'm waiting for an eviction notice so I can take it to court. I have to. I have to fight," she said.
According to documents seen by WCTV, in April 2022, the homeowners received a notice of a lot rent increase stating that their rent would go from $330 to $525.
Then in January, they received a second notice saying that their lot rent was going to increase from $525 to $750.
Residents of the mobile home park met with staff from Manufactured Housing America on Sunday to discuss what action could be taken against Homes of America.
Nicole Soza, MHAction’s Florida Community Organizer, explained to the news outlet that the group will help tenants take action to "ensure the affordability and safety of their park.
She added: "I think it's important to have them all at the meeting because that way they can all listen to each other's stories, build relationships, and build power in numbers to fight back."
Following complaints of poor living conditions at the park, Soza explained that MHAction plans to submit all resident complaints to the Department of Health and Code Enforcement.
She added that there will be more meetings with residents, local legislators, and officials to address these issues.
In February, Jessica Nealty a mother of three moved into her home in the park to discover urine and feces in the tub, sinks, and toilet.
She explained to WCTV in May that the property manager was alerted and she then moved in days later after being told the unit was ready.
Just a week later, the problem started again and she claimed that management was unwilling to address her request for help and that they took six days to send out a plumber.
During this time, the family was forced to take matters into their own hands with disinfectant and a plunger.
According to Nealy, management "made the comment that we were responsible for any maintenance issues on the property now."
Another section of Chapter 723 states: "A mobile home park owner shall at all times comply with the requirements of applicable building, housing, and health codes.
"Maintain buildings and improvements in common areas in a good state of repair and maintenance...Maintain utility connections and systems for which the park owner is responsible in proper operating condition."
The U.S. Sun has contacted Lake Bradford Estates for comment.
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