Huntington Beach OKs Mobile-Home Rentals : Real estate: New policy is for those with hardships. It excludes many others.

Drawing cheers and applause from about 100 mobile-home owners, the City Council late Monday unanimously approved an ordinance that allows residents to rent out their coaches in some situations.

“This is a big step for the mobile-home community in this city,” said Norma Brownell,who lives in Sea Aira Mobile Estates. “We should have the choice just like everyone else.”

The ordinance, which was opposed by some mobile-home park owners, allows residents to sublease their coaches on a temporary basis if they are unable to live in them because of hardships such as illness, a death in the family or a job transfer.

The ordinance, expected to receive final approval, does not apply to mobile-home residents whose current contracts with park owners prohibit subleasing.

“It’s not going to help us,” said Natalie Bartlett, 82, a resident of Huntington Harbour Mobile Estates. Most residents of that park have 10- or 15-year leases that do not allow them to sublet, she said, “but it will help future mobile-home owners.”

Mobile-home park owners in the past have opposed subletting and have raised several concerns, including the possibility that renters might not take care of the homes.

Vickie Talley, a representative for mobile-home park owners, spoke at Monday’s council meeting and questioned how far the city should go in imposing regulations on private property. She conceded later, though, that “the way the ordinance wound up appears to be reasonable and workable.”

Craig Houser, co-owner of Rancho del Rey Mobile Home Estates, said he is not opposed to the concept of subletting but has concerns about some of the ordinance’s provisions.

Park owners wanted the council to place a strict time limit on subleases, such as a 12-month cap, but the ordinance would allow some exceptions.

“We do feel that the one-year limit was more than enough time to make a decision to continue owning the home or selling it,” Talley said.

Houser said he is concerned too because the new policy does not define personal hardship. “There are many opportunities for it to be abused,” Houser said. “But I don’t have a problem helping somebody when they have a hardship.”

Mobile-home residents, some of whom waved placards that read “Human rights equals sublease rights” and “Subletting spells relief,” were elated.