National Stories

🔹 1. Sun Communities (Michigan‑based REIT) — Rent Increases Targeting Seniors

Residents of Norway Commons, a 55‑and‑over mobile home park in Maine, packed a town meeting to protest what they described as predatory rent increases imposed by Sun Communities, a large real estate investment trust that owns more than 500 parks nationwide. Seniors on fixed incomes said they were terrified of losing their homes. The town responded by passing a 180‑day moratorium on rent increases while officials work to close a loophole in state law that allows frequent hikes.

Source: Sun Journal

🔹 2. Onyx Capital (Private Equity) — Residents Form Co‑Op to Protect Themselves

At Shady Oaks Mobile Home Park in Arundel, Maine, residents began forming a co‑op after rent increases and instability under Onyx Capital, a private equity firm based in California. Residents told reporters they feared being priced out and wanted the right of first refusal if the park is sold again. The Select Board is now considering a rent stabilization ordinance to protect seniors and low‑income residents.

Source: Portland Press Herald

🔹 3. Multiple Investment Firms — U.S. Senate Investigation Launched

Senator Maggie Hassan launched a federal probe into six major investment firms buying up mobile home parks nationwide. The firms include:

• Alden Global Capital (Homes of America)

• BoaVida Group

• Legacy Communities

• Patriot Holdings

• Philips International

• Sun Communities

The investigation seeks documents on rent increases, evictions, fees, maintenance failures, and resident complaints. Hassan emphasized that seniors, disabled residents, and low‑income families are especially vulnerable because they own their homes but rent the land — making sudden rent hikes devastating.

Source: NBC News

🔹 4. Private Equity Firms Nationwide — Rent Up 45%, Evictions Rising

A national analysis published by The Conversation (via Phys.org) found that private equity firms have increasingly targeted mobile home parks, causing rent increases of 45% over the past decade. Once a park is sold, the risk of eviction rises significantly the following year. Many residents cannot move their homes due to cost or structural risk, leaving them trapped when rents spike.

Source: Phys.org / The Conversation

🔹 5. Private Equity Driving Evictions and Rent Hikes (National Overview)

Another national report shows private equity firms buying mobile home parks across the country, raising rents, filing evictions, and making affordable homeownership increasingly out of reach. This aligns with the broader pattern of corporate consolidation and aggressive revenue extraction from vulnerable communities.

Source: Finance & Commerce

🔹 6. South Bend, Indiana — Elderly Residents Ordered to Remove Window A/C Units or Face Eviction

Residents at Countryside Village, a YES Communities–owned mobile home park in South Bend, were told they must remove their window A/C units — even during summer heat. According to reporting, residents received letters stating that after three violations, evictions would be filed. Seniors and medically vulnerable residents told reporters the policy could be dangerous, with one saying:

“We’ve got elderly people that live in here, sick people that live in here, and they could die.”

Residents also noted that many own their homes but pay lot rent to YES, giving the company control over park rules.

Sources: MSN , Yahoo News Yahoo

🔹 7. South Bend, Indiana — Local Senator Calls Policy a Public Health Emergency

A second report from WSBT confirms the same situation at Countryside Village. Residents were again told to remove window A/C units, prompting Indiana State Senator David Niezgodski to call for an investigation by the Attorney General. He stated the policy “places lives at risk” during extreme heat.

Residents reported:

• Indoor temperatures reaching 92°F

• Threats of fines and eviction

• Medical conditions worsened by heat

A change in ownership leading to stricter rules

• Source: WSBT News