San Luis Obispo mobile park management faces civil settlement penalty
Harmony Communities manages South Peak Mobile Home Park in San Luis Obispo, along with over 50 other mobile home parks across California
– The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office has reached a civil settlement with Harmony Communities, Inc., a mobile home park management company, and its associated real estate brokerage firm, Partners Real Estate, Inc. The settlement includes a payment of $61,000 for civil penalties and a contribution to a non-profit organization that provides free legal assistance to tenants.
Harmony Communities manages South Peak Mobile Home Park in San Luis Obispo, along with over 50 other mobile home parks across California. The settlement follows an investigation by the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Consumer Protection Unit, joined by the district attorney’s offices in Fresno, San Joaquin, and Marin Counties. The civil complaint was filed in San Joaquin County Superior Court, where the defendant’s principal place of business is located.
The complaint alleges that for several years, Harmony Communities failed to reimburse background check fees, as required by California’s Mobile Residency Law. It also alleges that Partners Real Estate made misleading statements about housing units listed on the multiple listing service (MLS) that were managed by Harmony Communities.
“Mobile home park residents generally have lower value assets and net worth than those living in traditional homes, often making these residents economically vulnerable,” said Dow. “We want to ensure that the management teams and operators of mobile home parks comply with California law and maintain business practices that prevent abuses and ensure fair treatment of residents who live in these communities.”
Under the terms of the settlement, Partners Real Estate is prohibited from making statements on MLS that could mislead buyers into believing they are purchasing a manufactured home regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Additionally, recreational vehicles must be clearly identified as such in advertisements.
Harmony Communities is ordered to pay $21,000 in civil penalties, and Partners Real Estate is ordered to pay $20,000. Both companies are also required to pay $5,000 in restitution to Central California Legal Services, a non-profit organization providing free legal assistance related to housing issues. Additionally, both defendants must pay $15,000 to the four district attorney’s offices to cover investigative and prosecution costs.
For more information about consumer protection laws or to report suspected violations, contact the California Department of Consumer Affairs Consumer Assistance Line at (800) 952-5210 or visit www.dca.ca.gov. Hearing-impaired individuals can call TTY at (800) 326-229.
To report a consumer complaint directly to the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office, submit a complaint form through the following links:
