What must a Connecticut park disclose before I buy in?

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. §21-70(a), the park must give every prospective resident, before any rental agreement, a plain-language disclosure statement listing 'the monthly rental fee and all considerations payable by the resident,' the rental term, the goods and services provided, the conditions for reselling the home, the resident's eviction and resale rights, notice that 'outstanding property taxes may be owed on the mobile manufactured home,' and notice that there may be liens and that the buyer 'should check with the town clerk, tax assessor and tax collector.' This is general information, not advice about a specific purchase — consider consulting a licensed attorney in Connecticut.

Can a Connecticut park turn me down as a buyer?

Only for good cause. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. §21-79(d), the park must apply its entry requirements equally to all purchasers, and approval 'may not be withheld except for good cause' — a reasonable belief the buyer will use the home illegally or disturbingly, or can't pay the rent. The owner must state any reason in writing within ten days, and a failure to respond in ten days is 'deemed to be approval.'

Should I check for back taxes before buying a Connecticut mobile home?

Yes. The disclosure statement itself must warn that 'outstanding property taxes may be owed on the mobile manufactured home' and that the buyer 'should check with the town clerk, tax assessor and tax collector to determine whether any taxes are due' and whether liens exist (Conn. Gen. Stat. §21-70(a)(10), (11)) — because a Connecticut mobile manufactured home is taxed locally and a tax lien can attach.

Buying a mobile home in Connecticut

Connecticut gives a buyer a detailed up-front disclosure statement, equal and good-cause-only entry screening, and the assurance that a conforming home can stay in place, through the dedicated act (Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 412). The information below describes how the law generally works; anyone buying should consider consulting a licensed attorney in Connecticut.

What the statute says

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. §21-70(a), the Department of Consumer Protection prescribes a disclosure statement that is "a plain language summary of the rights and obligations listed in this chapter," which the owner must give "each prospective resident, before any rental agreement is entered into." It must include "the monthly rental fee and all considerations payable by the resident," the rental term, the amount of land, the goods and services provided, notice of any planned park closure, "a statement of conditions to be complied with by the owner and resident in the event of the sale of the mobile manufactured home," the resident's eviction rights under §21-80 and resale rights under §21-79, notice that "outstanding property taxes may be owed on the mobile manufactured home," and notice to "check with the town clerk, tax assessor and tax collector" about taxes and liens. "No rental agreement ... shall be enforceable until the requirements of this subsection are met."

Buyer screening is governed by §21-79(d): entry requirements must be "equally applied by the owner to all purchasers and prospective residents," approval "may not be withheld except for good cause," and a failure to deliver a written denial within ten days "shall be deemed to be approval." And §21-79(a) ensures a safe, sanitary, conforming home need not be removed when the buyer takes over, so long as the buyer assumes the rental agreement and rules.

How it works in general

A Connecticut buyer who plans to keep a home in a park is entitled, before signing anything, to a plain-language disclosure statement that lays out the rent and every charge, the term, the services, the resale conditions, and the resident's eviction and resale rights — and the rental agreement isn't even enforceable until that disclosure is given. The park has to apply its entry requirements the same way to everyone and can turn a buyer down only for genuine good cause, with a written reason inside ten days or the buyer is automatically approved. A conforming home the buyer is purchasing can stay on its lot. One Connecticut-specific caution the disclosure itself flags: a mobile manufactured home is taxed locally, so a buyer should check with the town clerk, assessor, and tax collector for unpaid taxes or liens before closing.

Common scenarios

General examples Connecticut buyers commonly encounter:

A buyer wants the terms up front. The park must give the full disclosure statement before any agreement (§21-70(a)).
A park screens applicants unevenly. Entry requirements must be applied equally, and refusal needs good cause (§21-79(d)).
A buyer worries about back taxes. The disclosure warns to check with the town clerk, assessor, and tax collector (§21-70(a)(10), (11)).

Other authorities that may apply

The dedicated act (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§21-70, 21-79) governs the disclosure, screening, and the right of a conforming home to stay; the Department of Consumer Protection prescribes the disclosure form and licenses the park. The home is conveyed by bill of sale and taxed locally. Federal lending rules and the Fair Housing Act can apply. The disclosure statement, the rules, and the local tax records are the core documents to review.