Mobile Home Park Advisory Committee Has First Meeting

SERVICE N.S./MUNICIPAL RELATIONS--Mobile Home Park Advisory Committee Has First Meeting

Eight volunteers have agreed to sit on the Mobile Home Park Advisory Committee and the team met for the first time Wednesday, June 9.

Last fall, Barry Barnet, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, promised to establish the committee to address issues facing mobile home park tenants and landlords.

"We wanted to ensure that we had a balanced mix of qualified volunteers who could represent the landlord and tenant sides of the issues," said director of residential tenancies Gerald Hashey, who chairs the committee.

The committee's insights and recommendations will be provided to the minister for consideration. "The committee will advise the minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations; they are not expected to resolve specific landlord and tenant disputes. That is the role of our residential tenancies officers," said Mr. Hashey.

The eight volunteer members are:

• Patricia Beson, tenant, Lower Sackville;
• Al Farthing, tenant, New Glasgow;
• Linda Hefler, landlord, Timber Trails Homes Ltd., Lower Sackville;
• Richard Hoadley, tenant, Timberlea;
• Faye McLean, tenant, Dartmouth;
• Robert Richards, landlord, Jaylynn Enterprises Ltd., Bridgewater;
• Heather Scott, landlord, Westphal Mobile Home Court, Halifax;
• Joanne Walker, landlord, Sackville Manor Limited, Halifax.

Members are appointed for two- and three-year terms; the mix will provide continuity as members are added or withdraw from the committee. Members do not receive compensation for their service although out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed.

A similar committee in the 1990s resulted in regulations that offer special protections for mobile home park tenants. These include a process to review rent increases and special notice to quit requirements for mobile home park tenants.