VICTORIA— New Democrat MLA, Harry Bains, introduced a bill that would protect manufactured home owners from being evicted with no supports when the site of their homes is slated for redevelopment.

“In my community of Surrey, people who live in manufactured home parks are worried that they’ll be evicted, have nowhere to go, and become homeless if the owner decides to redevelop the site,” said Bains. “The changes I am calling for would give manufactured home owners in Surrey and across B.C. the time and financial help they need when they find out they’re being evicted.

“I’ve introduced this legislation in previous years, and so far the B.C. Liberal government have blocked it from proceeding. I sincerely hope that they will support it this time.”

Along with Surrey, manufactured home owners in Port Edward, Coquitlam and other communities across the province, have been forced to leave their homes because the owners decide they want to redevelop the site.

Under B.C.’s current laws, owners responsible for the evicting their manufactured home park tenants are under no obligation to offer alternative housing or provide sufficient compensation for relocation costs. For years the B.C. New Democrats have been calling on the B.C. Liberal government to step in to provide protections for the evicted tenants, but the government has neglected to do so.

Bains’ bill would require manufactured home park landlords to give a one year notice to their tenants and provide their tenants with up to $30,000 to cover relocation expenses. If a person couldn’t relocate their manufactured home, the landlord would be required to pay them out, at fair market value.

“It’s time for the Christy Clark government to stop ignoring the housing crisis and start working on solutions,” said Bains. “They could start today by passing this bill to protect manufactured home owners.”

Here is a link to the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Amendment Act, 2016.