Mobile Home Park Owners Agree to Policy Changes and Refunds
MCLEAN COUNTY — A mobile home owner and his partner, who together rent a lot in Hilltop Mobile Home Park, have settled a lawsuit alleging unfair and illegal practices by a Texas Company doing business in McLean County as Oak Wood Properties. In June 2024, Prairie State Legal Services (PSLS) filed a lawsuit in McLean County Circuit Court, alleging that Oak Wood violated the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Rights Act and the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act by asking the tenants to sign a new lease with misleading and illegal provisions. The lawsuit also alleged that the park charged fees the tenants did not agree to pay and illegally began charging increased rent in the middle of a lease term.
The tenants agreed to dismiss their suit when Oak Wood agreed to:
- amend its model lease and community rules to conform to Illinois law
- provide rent increase projections
- review all tenant accounts to determine if any amounts were improperly charged to tenants
- provide annual disclosures regarding tenants’ rights
- issue refunds for improper charges
The lease changes and account reviews apply across all five McLean County parks owned by the company, including Alexander Estates, Grandview Estates, Hilltop Mobile Home Park, Maple Grove Estates, and Northmeadow Village. The review of accounts encompasses overcharges since October 2023. Oak Wood agreed to circulate refund notices to tenants determined to have improper charges no later than August 23, 2025. This may include rent increases given in the middle of a tenant’s existing lease term.
The annual disclosures inform tenants that:
- signing a new lease or lease addendum is not a requirement to continue to reside in a park
- a tenant cannot be evicted for choosing not to sign a new lease
- tenants have automatically renewable leases on which they may choose to rely including leases pre-dating Oak Wood’s ownership of the parks
- tenants may only be charged fees and fines specifically itemized in that tenant’s lease
- any new lease proposal is meant to be given at the time of annual renewal, not during the middle of a lease term
- any past notices in conflict with those terms are null and void
PSLS Supervising Attorney, Erin Duncan, who filed the Complaint on behalf of the Hilltop tenants says, “PSLS works to protect basic human needs and to enforce and uphold rights, including access to safe and affordable housing. Housing investors looking to do business in McLean County must follow Illinois laws designed to protect tenant consumers from unfair practices, including illegal fees and rent increases. When tenants know their rights, they are better equipped to obtain and maintain stable housing.”
McLean County mobile home tenants with questions about their rights can contact PSLS at 309-827-5021.
PSLS offers free legal services to low income persons and those older than 60 who have serious civil legal problems and need legal help to solve them. PSLS has 11 offices serving 36 counties throughout Northern and Central Illinois. All offices are accessible to people with disabilities. Free legal help is available in most languages.