Woman shocked by 70% rent hike at mobile home park as investor takes over. And she can’t reach anyone to ask questions
For millions of Americans priced out of traditional homeownership, mobile homes have become a foothold into the American dream.
After years of soaring home prices, stubborn mortgage rates and relentless rent hikes, affordability hasn’t killed the dream; it’s reshaped it.
Over 22 million Americans now live in mobile homes, drawn by lower upfront costs and simpler construction (1). But that refuge is increasingly under threat. Mobile home parks across the country are being snapped up by institutional investors who see them as low-risk, high-return assets. It’s a shift that’s often followed by sharp rent increases for residents who can’t easily move.
That reality hit home on January 1 for residents of a Louisville mobile home park in Blount County, Tennessee. One tenant, Sherry Russell, said she was notified that her lot’s rent would jump 70% starting February 1.
“It’s been a little over a week now, and I’m still trying to wrap it around my head,” Russell told WATE 6 On Your Side (2).
Average rent increases have hovered around 3.18% annually in the U.S. since 2012 (3). For mobile home residents, rent typically ranges from about $200 to $800 a month, with the national average hovering at $400 (4). Russell’s rent was $350 a month. Under the proposed 70% increase, her rent will rise by about $245, bringing it to $595.
The increase alone was jarring, but within days of the ownership change, Russell said she received a notice claiming her January payment was late, a charge she disputes.
For years, she said, she paid her rent in cash on the 15th of every month at the manager’s office, handing the payment directly to Mr. Wilson. Adding to the confusion, Russell was given a document labeled, “Pay Lease” card, which listed payment instructions directing residents to pay at Walmart or K-Mart.
“K-Mart has been out of business for about 10 years now,” said Russell.
Adding to the situation were errors that appeared throughout the paperwork provided by the new owner, Volunteer Runway Communities. Her last name was listed incorrectly as West, her maiden name, instead of Russell.
“The only thing that was correct on this form was the lot number,” Russell said. “My last name at one time was West, but not since I was 18 years old.”
