How much is lot rent for a mobile home?
Lot rent for a mobile home in the Clearwater and Tampa Bay parks where Welcome Home Mobile Homes sells runs $650 to $1,200 a month. The figure is the company's own range across local 55+ and all-age parks; each park publishes its exact amount in the lot rental agreement and the prospectus.
Lot rent is paid on top of the home price. A home listed at $60,000 with lot rent of $900 a month costs $70,800 in its first year: $60,000 once and $10,800 in rent.
What does lot rent include?
Lot rent always pays for the use of the lot. In local parks it often includes water, sewer, trash collection and lawn care, and it pays for the park's shared amenities, such as a clubhouse or a pool where the park has one.
| Item | In the lot rent? |
|---|---|
| Use of the lot | Always |
| Water and sewer | Often |
| Trash collection | Often |
| Lawn care | Often |
| Clubhouse, pool and shared areas | Where the park has them |
| Electricity, phone and internet | Set out in each park's prospectus |
Does lot rent include utilities?
Lot rent includes some utilities in most local parks: water, sewer and trash are the usual ones. The park's prospectus lists every utility and user fee, and any utility not listed there is billed to the home owner separately.
What changes the lot rent?
Lot rent changes with 5 factors: the services included, the park's amenities, pass-through charges, the park's own pricing and the yearly increase method in the prospectus.
| Factor | How it changes the lot rent |
|---|---|
| Services included | Water, sewer, trash and lawn care in the rent raise it, and remove separate bills |
| Amenities | Pools, clubhouses and planned activities are paid for through the rent |
| Pass-through charges | Florida parks with more than 26 lots may pass land property taxes and some government charges through to residents |
| Park pricing | Each park owner sets the base amount in the lot rental agreement |
| Increase method | The prospectus states how and when the rent rises |
How do lot rent increases work in Florida?
A Florida park owner gives written notice to each affected home owner at least 90 days before any lot rent increase, under section 723.037 of the Florida Mobile Home Act. The same 90-day notice applies to a cut in services or utilities and to a change in park rules. A home owner cannot waive the right to that notice.
Residents can name a committee to meet the park owner about an increase, and the park owner discloses the factors behind it at that meeting.
What is a mobile home park prospectus?
A prospectus is the park's disclosure document. In a Florida park with 26 or more lots, the park owner delivers an approved prospectus before the lot rental agreement is signed, and the agreement can be cancelled by the home owner for 15 days after delivery. It describes the lot rent, user fees, how rent rises and the park's rules.
Is lot rent the same as property tax?
No. A mobile home on a rented lot is not taxed as real property in Florida. The owner buys an annual mobile home decal from the county tax collector instead, which expires on 31 December. The park owner pays the property tax on the land and may pass part of it through the lot rent.
Lot rent decides how affordable a park is month to month, so compare it before you compare homes. The steps for that are in how to buy a mobile home in Florida, and 55+ park fees are covered in 55+ manufactured home communities in Florida. Owners selling a home can read sell your mobile home.
