Skoufis, Silver Stream Mobile Home Residents Call on State to Intervene in Unlawful Rent Increases

**PRESS RELEASE**

Skoufis, Silver Stream Mobile Home Residents Call on State to Intervene in Unlawful Rent Increases

Senator James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley) stood with residents of Silver Stream Village Mobile Home Park to demand that the park’s owner, RHP Properties, withdraw their unlawful rent increase which approaches 6% over last year. Short of that, Skoufis is calling on the state’s Homes and Community Renewal Agency to immediately intervene and negotiate a lawful rent increase.

Under the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act passed this legislative session, mobile home lot rent increases are capped at 3% barring extenuating circumstances such as a significant property tax increase. In the case of Silver Stream Village, RHP Properties is increasing rent by nearly 6% while failing to provide any justification. In fact, town and county property taxes for the park owner decreased over the past year: school taxes only increased 1%.

“What RHP Properties is trying to do with this egregious rent increase is undoubtedly illegal,” said Senator Skoufis. “RHP can either decide to do the right thing and withdraw their rent increase or lose in court, it’s up to them. Short of an immediate withdrawal of this unlawful rent increase, I’m calling for the state to immediately intervene. My office’s very first constituent case was a complaint from a Silver Stream resident back in January-- enough is enough. It’s time they provide these residents with the respect they deserve, and if they aren’t compelled to do it on their own, I will make sure that they are held accountable. I stand with the residents of Silver Stream and won’t stop fighting for them until this situation is remediated.”

Yvonne Maldonato, Silver Stream Village resident and community activist said, “My deepest thanks to Senator Skoufis on behalf of myself and the village. Senator Skoufis has always been supportive, has listened to us, and opened the door for us. New legislation set laws in place to protect mobile homeowners and RHP Properties is not respecting these new laws. We are calling on New York State’s Homes and Community Renewal Agency to intervene and help us seek justice.”

The Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, which was enacted on June 14, 2019 and took effect a month later. This affordable housing legislation extends certain tenant protections statewide and implements protections for mobile and manufactured home tenants.

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