EDITORIAL\Time for decontrol.THE current system of mobile-home rent control is flawed flaw 1 n. 1. An imperfection, often concealed, that impairs soundness: a flaw in the crystal that caused it to shatter. See Synonyms at blemish. 2. , creating a stalled market for new parks New Parks is an area in the city of Leicester, England. It is in the west of the city, close by the county border (west of which is Glenfield. South of New Parks is the Western Parks area, and to the east is the Newfound Pool area. and a scarce supply of home spaces. Proposition 199, which would phase out rent control over a number of years, is a modest step in the right direction. Under the proposal, existing mobile-home owners still would be protected by rent control (which allows increases equal to the cost of living). Controls would end only when the home is sold, sublet sub·let tr.v. sub·let, sub·let·ting, sub·lets 1. To rent (property one holds by lease) to another. 2. To subcontract (work). n. or ownership is transferred. The proposal is not the "widow's eviction The removal of a tenant from possession of premises in which he or she resides or has a property interest done by a landlord either by reentry upon the premises or through a court action. " initiative its opponents contend. The immediate impact of Proposition 199 on current mobile-home owners would be minimal. In fact, most of the 100 cities and counties in the state with rent control already allow for cost-of-living increases. Some cities, like Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , also permit rent increases when the mobile home is sold or ownership is transferred. Under the current system of rent control, new mobile-home park construction has all but stopped. Between 1991 and 1995, there has been a net decrease of 84 mobile-home parks statewide. "Since 1980, at about the time when mobile-home park rent control became more popular and widespread, the number of new parks built in California has virtually come to a standstill standstill /stand·still/ (stand´stil?) cessation of activity, as of the heart (cardiac s.) or chest (respiratory s.) . stand·still n. Complete cessation of activity or progress. ," said John Frith John Frith (1503–July 4, 1533) was an English Protestant priest, writer, and martyr. Early life and education Frith was born to an innkeeper named Richard Frith in Sevenoaks Inn at Westerham, Kent, England. , spokesman for the state Department of Housing and Community Development. Decontrol de·con·trol tr.v. de·con·trolled, de·con·trol·ling, de·con·trols To stop control of, especially by the government: decontrolled oil and natural-gas prices. may allow rents to rise for the newer tenants, but it also would reduce inflated prices and increase availability of park spaces. What it comes down to is a marketplace issue: Government should not be in the business of setting artificially low prices - whether it's for farmers, airlines or mobile-home operators. The economics behind it make little sense, as has been borne out in numerous academic studies. While there is no quick-fix solution to reinvigorating the mobile-home affordable housing market, Proposition 199 is a sensible first step. PROP. 199 AT A GLANCE Here is a summary of Proposition 199 on the March 26 ballot in the statewide primary election ballot: Mobile-home rent controls: Would phase out rent control over time by removing controls on mobile-home spaces when the homeowner sells, sublets or transfers ownership. It modifies existing controls to allow increases not to exceed the cost of living. It also requires future state mobile-home rent-control laws be approved by voters. The Daily News recommends: YES CAPTION(S): CHART Box Prop. 199 at a glance (see text) |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion