Mobile home lot rent rules in New Mexico

New Mexico has a strong dedicated park law — the Mobile Home Park Act, NMSA 1978 §§47-10-1 to 47-10-23 — that requires a written lease and controls how a rent increase is disclosed and timed. The information below describes how the law generally works; anyone dealing with a specific increase should consider consulting a licensed attorney in New Mexico.

What the statute says

Under NMSA 1978 §47-10-3(A), "no tenancy or other lease or rental occupancy of space in a mobile home park shall commence without a written lease or rental agreement." On rent, §47-10-6 provides that "rent shall not be increased without sixty days' written notice to the tenant," and §47-10-19(A) requires the landlord to "fully and accurately disclose in writing to a resident an increase in rent ... at least sixty days prior to implementation." Section 47-10-19(B) gives a resident or prospective resident the right, on written request, to "a current schedule of the range of rental rates in the mobile home park."

Disclosure runs deeper: the rental agreement must state "the term of the tenancy, the amount of the rent and the dollar amount of any rent increases for each of the preceding two years" (§47-10-14(A)(1)), along with the due date, the default day, the rules, the zoning, the appeal and owner addresses, "all charges to the tenant other than rent," and a statement of the resident's right to alternative dispute resolution (§47-10-14(A)). There is no statute capping the amount of rent.

How it works in general

A New Mexico park resident is entitled to a written lease, and any rent increase has to be disclosed in writing at least 60 days before it takes effect. Before signing, the resident should see the rent-increase history for the prior two years, and at any time can ask in writing for the park's current schedule of rental rates. New Mexico doesn't cap the amount of rent, so the 60-day notice, the two-year history disclosure, and the rate-schedule right are the main guardrails on lot rent — and a violation of the disclosure rules can carry a civil penalty of up to $500 (§47-10-23).

Common scenarios

General examples New Mexico park residents commonly encounter:

• A rent increase arrives with short notice. At least 60 days' written notice is required (§47-10-6, §47-10-19(A)).
• A resident wants to compare rents. The park must provide a current rate schedule on written request (§47-10-19(B)).
• A new resident reviews the lease. It must disclose the prior two years' rent increases (§47-10-14(A)(1)).

Other authorities that may apply

The Mobile Home Park Act (NMSA 1978 §§47-10-1 to 47-10-23) governs the lease and rent-increase disclosure; the Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act (NMSA 1978 §§47-8-1 to 47-8-52) supplies background rules where the Park Act doesn't conflict (§47-10-18). Because New Mexico sets no rent cap, this guide flags that gap honestly. Federal law such as the Fair Housing Act can also apply.