Nanaimo Regional District Considers New Protections for Manufactured Home Park Residents

Noah Chen

7/9/20262 min read

The Regional District of Nanaimo is considering changes to its manufactured home park redevelopment rules that could give residents clearer protections if their park is sold, rezoned or redeveloped.

The district’s Electoral Area Services Committee is scheduled to discuss potential updates to the region’s Manufactured Home Park Redevelopment Policy on Thursday.

According to a staff report, the current policy was created in 2006 and is now considered outdated.

The report says the existing policy provides broad guidance but does not include clear procedures, defined timelines, standardized compensation rules or enforcement mechanisms.

Proposed Policy Would Add Compensation Rules

The draft new policy includes several measures intended to better protect residents of manufactured home parks, also known as mobile home parks or trailer parks.

Those proposed changes include compensation based on the assessed value of a home or relocation costs, compensation for renters based on the length of their tenancy, two years’ notice instead of one, and moving-expense support.

The policy would apply in cases where park owners seek to rezone the property for another use, such as creating a subdivision or building new housing.

Park Owners Raise Financial Concerns

The staff report also notes concerns from some manufactured home park owners in the region.

Owners pointed to rising operating and maintenance costs, as well as challenges involving abandoned units.

Some said stronger tenant protections could make redevelopment more difficult and increase financial pressure on park owners. The report says those added requirements could also reduce land values.

The report also notes that many existing owners may not be in a position to redevelop their parks. If land values fall, it says, that could increase the risk of park closures.

Residents Face Uncertain Housing Situation

Manufactured home park residents typically own the home they live in but lease the land from the park owner. In some cases, residents rent the home directly from the park.

For residents, that arrangement can create uncertainty if a park is sold or if the land is rezoned.

Joe Fortino, who lives in the Schooner Bay Manor manufactured home park in Nanoose Bay, said he and his wife realized how precarious their situation was two years ago when the property was put up for sale.

“We all of a sudden started to question, well gee golly, what happens if whoever buys it is not intent on keeping it what it is?” Fortino told Peazzi.

Fortino said residents can be left in a difficult position because there are often few places where they can move a manufactured home. In some cases, the home may not be in good enough condition to move at all.

He said some manufactured homes can be worth as much as $500,000, creating a major financial burden for owners who still have a mortgage but may not be able to sell or relocate their home.

Housing Concerns Prompted Policy Review

Leanne Salter, director for the regional district’s Electoral Area F, said concerns raised by Fortino two years ago helped push the district to review its policy.

Her area includes Coombs, Errington, Hilliers and Whiskey Creek, where she said there are several manufactured home parks.

“My biggest concern was the housing piece,” Salter told Peazzi.

She said government policies and decisions can sometimes affect whether people are able to stay housed.

Salter said she sees the proposed updates as a positive step for the regional district and praised the work done so far.

“I think this is really a positive move for the regional district,” she said. “I’m really quite pleased and I’m proud of the work they’ve done.”

The committee’s discussion could help shape how the regional district balances redevelopment interests with the housing stability of manufactured home park residents.

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