Mountain View analyst Diana Thomas outlines mobile-home rent-stabilization rules at online workshop

Diana Thomas, an Analyst II for the City of Mountain View, led a Spanish-language online workshop explaining how the city’s Mobile Home Rent Stabilization Ordinance (MHRSO) protects mobile-home owners and tenants and limits permitted rent increases. "El personal de la ciudad de Mountain View no puede ofrecer consejo legal, pero podemos ofrecer consejos, mejores prácticas y una visión general de los programas de la ciudad," she told attendees.

The workshop summarized who the ordinance covers and key rules residents should know. Thomas said the MHRSO, enacted Oct. 28, 2021, applies to owners who rent space in mobile-home parks and to tenants who rent mobile homes, including community facilities and housing services provided by park owners. She explained that "rent" includes periodic payments for use of the space and associated community services but excludes separately billed utilities and certain local administrative fees.

Thomas outlined when an owner may lawfully raise rent: at least 12 months must have passed since the previous increase, the property must be registered with the city, there must be no outstanding code violations, and tenants must receive the written notice required by state law. On limits to annual increases, she described the city’s General Adjustment (AGA): "El AGA no puede superar el 3 por 100," and said the Housing Committee in March 2025 set the AGA calculation at 60% of the inflation rate; she noted the AGA for Sept. 1, 2025–Aug. 31, 2026 will be 1.6%.

Thomas also explained cumulative (banked) increases—allowed increases not previously charged that may be applied later up to a 10% total when the ordinance’s notice and hardship-language requirements are met. On security deposits, she said that effective July 1, 2024 the maximum security deposit for mobile-home tenants is one month’s rent, though a landlord may collect up to two months’ rent in specific small-landlord or owner-occupant circumstances when statutory conditions apply.

The workshop covered vacancy rules and eviction protections. Thomas distinguished vacancy control (which limits how much rent can rise at lease start, typically tied to the AGA) from vacancy decontrol (which allows market-rate initial rents for new tenancies) and described exceptions, such as sales to owner-occupants or commercial buyers who replace a mobile home. On evictions, she summarized the ordinance’s just-cause grounds—nonpayment, lease violations, substantial nuisance, failure to follow laws, park use changes and demolition—and said that for certain grounds the city requires relocation assistance and help finding replacement housing.

Thomas warned that constructive evictions and retaliatory practices are prohibited—examples she listed included changing locks, cutting utilities, removing tenant property, threats, refusing rent payments and discriminatory actions—and said tenants and landlords may file reports with the city; reports of harassment or retaliation can lead to court actions.

The session included a question-and-answer period. Thomas confirmed the slides and a recording of the workshop will be emailed and posted, and offered free staff review of petitions and help completing petition steps. She closed by giving an MBRENT email address and a local phone number for follow-up, and by describing regular virtual office hours and a tenant/owner assistance center that provides services in Spanish.

Materials and next steps: staff will send the presentation to attendees, post the recording, and continue to offer case review and assistance for petition filing.