An Act to amend and reenact §§ 55.1-1300 and 55.1-1308 of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding sections numbered 55.1-1308.3, 55.1-1308.4, and 55.1-1308.5; and to repeal § 55.1-1308.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act; right of first refusal; resident entities and localities.
HB375 amends Virginia’s Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act to create and refine a right of first refusal framework when a manufactured home park is offered for sale. The bill adds new definitions, including “resident entity” and “locality,” and revises existing provisions governing manufactured home park tenancies. It also adds new sections to the Code of Virginia and repeals an existing section, indicating a restructuring of the statutory scheme for park sales and tenant protections.
The measure is aimed at giving manufactured home park residents, through a qualifying resident entity, and in some circumstances localities, a formal opportunity to purchase the park before it is sold to an outside buyer. By defining what counts as a resident entity and setting out related procedures, the bill appears designed to support resident ownership, preserve affordable housing, and provide a path for communities to keep parks under local or resident control. It also touches the termination of tenancy provisions in the manufactured home context, suggesting related updates to the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants in these parks.
HB375 changes the Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act in Title 55.1 by amending definitions in § 55.1-1300, revising § 55.1-1308 on termination of tenancy, adding new sections §§ 55.1-1308.3 through 55.1-1308.5, and repealing § 55.1-1308.2. The practical effect is to alter the legal process for sales of manufactured home parks and to establish statutory rights for resident entities and localities to participate in or exercise a right of first refusal, affecting park owners, operators, tenants, and potential purchasers.
The available record shows the bill was enacted as Chapter 599 and approved on April 13, 2026, which suggests it had sufficient support to pass through the General Assembly and become law. Because no committee transcripts or vote breakdowns are provided, there is no direct record here of floor debate or opposition. The overall sentiment inferred from enactment is favorable, likely reflecting bipartisan or at least majority support for resident protections in manufactured home communities.
The main likely point of contention is the balance between property owners’ ability to sell manufactured home parks freely and residents’ or localities’ ability to intervene through a right of first refusal. Park owners and prospective outside buyers may view the new purchase rights and procedural requirements as burdensome or as constraints on market transactions, while resident advocates and local governments are likely to support them as tools to prevent displacement and preserve affordable housing. The bill’s creation of a “resident entity” standard may also raise questions about how resident representation is verified and how the purchase process is administered.