A proposed law in the Massachusetts Legislature, MA H1116, would provide out of court dispute resolution and require water, septic and sewer inspections at each home, something the residents say is needed, but owners say it could sink them. Costing $300-$500 per septic tank, and nearly as much for the water system, Mark Asnes, vice-president of the Massachusetts Manufactured Housing Association, and the owner of 11 manufactured home communities (MHCs) in Mass. and Conn. says, “That might be half your profit for the year. It creates hardship. At the end of the day, we own businesses. The costs have to be passed down to the resident.” As MHProNewsreported May 8, 2013, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley testified before the state’s Joint Committee on Housing that most of the complaints her office receives about MHCs concern water and sewage problems. President of the statewide residents group, Manufactured Home Federation of Massachusetts, Jesse Martinez says at some communities laws end where the water enters the property, and at others the systems pose a health and safety risk to the residents. Both Coakey and Martinez support the out-of-court dispute resolution portion of the bill, according to masslive.
