Common mobile home park lease terms
Plain-language definitions of the terms that commonly appear in a mobile home park lot lease — lot rent, pass-through, sell-in-place, change of use, and more.
Published June 4, 2026
A quick glossary of terms that commonly appear in a mobile home park lot lease, in plain language. This is general information, not legal advice, and the authors are not lawyers — definitions are general and your lease or state law may define a term differently. Consider a licensed attorney for a specific lease.
At a glance
| Term | Plain-language meaning |
|---|---|
| Lot rent (space rent) | Monthly rent for the lot your home sits on, separate from any home loan. |
| Pass-through fee | A cost (tax, water, trash) the park passes on to residents on top of rent. |
| Sell in place | Selling your home where it sits, with the buyer renting the lot. |
| Buyer approval | The park's screening of a new lot tenant; often "not unreasonably withheld." |
| Change of use | The park converting the land to another use, usually with long notice. |
| Entrance / exit fee | A one-time charge to move in or out; barred in some states. |
| Cure period | Time to fix a violation or pay overdue rent to keep the tenancy. |
| Self-help eviction | Lockouts or shutoffs without a court order; barred in many states. |
| Affixation | Permanently attaching the home to land, a step toward real-property status. |
| Prospectus / disclosure | A required statement of the park's rules, fees, and policies. |
How to use this
This sheet defines terms generally; it does not interpret your lease or state law. Read each term as it is defined in your own lease and your state's park statute.
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Frequently asked questions
- What does 'lot rent' mean in a mobile home park lease?
- Lot rent (or 'space rent') is the monthly amount a resident pays the park for the right to keep their home on a rented lot — separate from any loan payment on the home itself. It typically does not include utilities or pass-through fees unless the lease says so. This is general, educational information, not legal advice.
- What does 'sell in place' mean for a mobile home?
- Selling 'in place' means selling your home while it stays on its lot in the community, with the buyer renting that lot — rather than moving the home. Many states protect this right and limit what the park can charge or require. This is general information, not legal advice — see your state's selling guide.