Over 50 Houston families evicted from mobile home park — some were charged rent after leaving, advocates say

Taking up residence in a mobile home park can be an economical means of putting a roof over one's head.
But more than 50 families at County Road Mobile Home Park in Houston, Texas, were displaced after the land they were living on was sold, according to KHOU 11 News. Residents had until April 8 to move out, and some were forced to spend thousands of dollars to relocate.
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Marta De La Garza, who lived in the park with her family for five years, says she had to shell out $9,000 — $3,000 for transportation and $6,000 to set up utilities — to move to a new location.
"We had to pay for the people who moved the mobile home. We had to pay a plumber again. We had to pay for electricity again," she told the local broadcaster in a story published April 9. "It was a nightmare."
Moving costs may also not have been the only financial challenges some residents had to face. Here's the story behind the challenging evictions, plus ways you can protect yourself as a tenant.
Residents of County Road Mobile Home Park received eviction notices in September after the property was purchased by a company named Summit Acquisitions, per KHOU 11 News. They were first told they would need to vacate the property by the end of the year, but that deadline was then extended until the spring.
The forced move has been devastating for several residents, including Frankie Schwarzburg, who says her trailer was damaged beyond repair during transport and is no longer habitable.
"I cannot live in my trailer," she told KHOU 11 News. "I'm out $15,000 and a home."
In addition, the broadcaster reports community advocates say some former tenants were mistakenly charged rent in March and April, even after leaving, while others have been kept waiting for their security deposits to be returned.
"They're being charged for a place they can't live anymore," Damaris Gonzalez of the Texas Organizing Project told KHOU 11 News.
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Former residents are calling on legislators to strengthen rights for mobile home owners. State Sen. Molly Cook told the broadcaster she's introduced a number of bills aimed at addressing these issues.
"I don't hear people talking about manufactured homes enough," Cook told KHOU 11 News. "The reality is that this is what makes the American dream accessible to so many Texans."
The broadcaster says neither the former property manager nor the new owners immediately responded to requests for comment.
If you're facing eviction, it's important to understand your rights. You should know that while you can be evicted for failing to comply with the terms of your lease, your landlord can also choose not to renew your lease.
Different states may have different laws regarding evictions. In Texas, for example, you'll typically be given a notice to vacate. This is not an eviction, and your landlord must give at least three days to vacate. If you don't move out by that deadline, your landlord can file an eviction suit with the court.
From there, you may have to appear in court to try to state your case (assuming you want to stay in your home). After a judgment is made, either side has the option to appeal the decision within five days. If you lose and don't appeal yet refuse to move, your landlord can ask the court for a writ of possession and you'll then have 24 hours to vacate the property. If you don't, your landlord will have the right to remove your belongings from the property.
It's important to understand how the eviction process works. If you feel you need help with your case, you may want to consider consulting an attorney.
It's also important to keep detailed records of communications between you and your landlord in an eviction situation. For example, if you're being evicted due to violating a lease term and you can prove you didn't, that's something to bring to your eviction hearing. You should also document any interaction between you and your landlord where you feel your rights as a tenant were violated.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

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