Manufactured/Mobile Home Relocation Assistance Program

If you own your manufactured or mobile home and live in a community closing in Washington, you may be eligible for relocation assistance. Manufactured and mobile home relocation assistance is provided to eligible low-income households on a first-come, first-served basis, prioritizing tenants in communities closed due to health and safety concerns or community-owner fraud.

Program Overview

The Manufactured/Mobile Home Relocation Assistance Program (Relocation Assistance Program) provides cash assistance up to $11,000 for a single-section home or up to $17,000 for a multi-section home (including single-sections with additional, built living space). Cash assistance is provided in two payments:

  1. when a household is determined eligible; and
  2. when a household either signs over the home’s title to the community owner or upon removal of their home from the community.

Both options must happen within 90 days of the eligible household receiving their first payment. Community owners may seek reimbursement from the Relocation Assistance Program for allowable demolition and disposal costs associated with eligible households. Community owners may request up to $5,500 for a single-section home and up to $8,500 for a multi-section home (including single-sections with additional, built living space).

Households in closing communities may work with the Relocation Assistance Program Coordinator to ask questions about program eligibility, the application process, relocating from their community, or other resources. Please text/call (360) 515-8149 or email Brooke.Brooling@Commerce.wa.gov.

Program Information and Documents

If you have questions or need the application in a language other than English, don’t hesitate to contact us at OMH@Commerce.wa.gov, toll-free at 800-964-0852 or 360-725-2971.

If English is not your primary language, we will call you back with the help of a telephone interpreter in the language you are most comfortable with.

Eligible tenants (homeowners) in closing manufactured/mobile home communities may sell or gift their homes to a third party (buyer) and still receive relocation assistance. However, the eligible tenant must follow certain requirements of the Relocation Assistance Program and the Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.20.073, Transfer of rental agreements).

Before selling or gifting their home to a third-party buyer, the homeowner must:

  • Inform the third party of the community closure date
  • Inform the community owner (landlord) of their intention to sell their home to a third party 
  • Inform the Department of Commerce (Commerce) of their intention to sell their home to a third party (Commerce will send eligible tenants a copy of the “Guidance” document and “Acknowledgement” form)
  • Read the guidance & requirements and acknowledge receipt on the “Acknowledgement” form
  • Provide a copy of the “Guidance, Requirements, and Acknowledgement”  document to the interested third party and the community owner (landlord)
  • Submit a copy of the “Acknowledgement” form signed by all parties to Commerce before the home is sold to the third party 

If you have questions, please contact the Department of Commerce Relocation Coordinator, Brooke Brooling, at 360-515-8149 or email Brooke.Brooling@Commerce.wa.gov.  

Please contact us if you need this information in a language other than English. We can call you with a telephone interpreter in your preferred language. 

The Closure Notice to Tenants Template (Notice) must be used by landlords closing or converting their manufactured/mobile home community as of July 28, 2019. Please see Chapter 342, Laws of 2019 (ESHB 1582) and RCW 59.20.080 for exemptions to this requirement. Read more about Notice requirements according to RCW 59.21.030. 

The Notice is also available in the following languages:

The Notice is available upon request in printed form. 

Translated versions of this document are provided by a Washington State Department of Enterprise Systems’ approved vendor. 

To request the Notice in printed form or make suggestions for improving Notice translation, please contact the Office of Manufactured/Mobile Home Relocation Assistance at OMH@Commerce.wa.gov, toll-free at 800-964-0852 or 360-725-2971. 

If English is not your primary language, we will call you back with the help of a telephone interpreter in the language you are most comfortable with.

Frequently Asked Questions about Relocation Assistance

Request information and an application from the Office of Manufactured/Mobile Home Relocation Assistance at omh@commerce.wa.gov, toll-free at 800-964-0852 or 360-725-2971.

If English is not your primary language, we will call you back with the help of a telephone interpreter in the language you are most comfortable with.

Tenants who owned and lived in their home when the closure notice was issued, and meet income guidelines (less than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for the county their home is located in), are eligible for assistance. Tenants who live in a community closed for health and safety issues or community owner fraud are assisted first. All other assistance is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Owners of recreational vehicles (RVs), travel trailers, and park models (as defined in RCW 59.20.030) are not eligible for relocation assistance.

Relocation assistance is a combination of fees collected when a home is purchased in a manufactured/mobile home community (RCW 59.21.050) and a portion of a community owner’s annual registration with the Washington State Department of Revenue (RCW 59.30.050 (3) (b)).

The amount of money available depends on the revenue and the number of communities closing. Assistance is available on a first-come, first-serve basis as long as money is available.

Tenants are eligible for a maximum of $11,000 (single-section) or $17,000 (multi-section, including a single-section with additional built living space). Community owners may receive reimbursement up to $5,500 (single-section) or $8,500 (multi-section, including single-section with additional built living space) for demolition/disposal of homes associated with eligible homeowners.

Tenants receive cash assistance as soon as they are determined eligible ($8,000 for a single-section home; $12,000 for a multi-section home, including a single-section with additional built living space). After certain conditions are met, owners of single-section homes will receive an extra $3,000 cash; owners of multi-sections, including single-sections with additional built living space, will receive an additional $5,000 in cash. Commerce reimburses eligible community owners for allowable demolition and disposal costs when we receive receipts, payment confirmation, and other required documentation ($5,500 for a single-section; $8,500 for a multi-section, including a single-section with additional built living space).

You can use your cash assistance to remove and reinstall your home in another location or demolish and dispose of your current home and find other housing that meets your needs. You can also transfer the title of your home over to the community owner. The community owner will then demolish and dispose of your home for you. You can use your cash assistance to find other housing that meets your needs.

The program will reimburse the community owner for relocation-related costs to demolish and dispose of eligible tenant homes. Demolition and disposal costs may include asbestos testing and removal, demolition, waste hauling, and landfill fees. Contact the program if you have questions.

The program will not reimburse costs for demolishing and disposal of garages, sheds, other tenant outbuildings, or community infrastructure. Contact the program if you have questions.

We can’t estimate how long the assistance process will take because it depends on the money available in the fund and the number of eligible tenants applying.

  1. Ask the owner of the community you would like to relocate your home to. They may have a list of transporters they know and trust.
  2. Contact other homeowners you know and trust who were satisfied with the transporter they hired.

IMPORTANT: If your transporter is installing your home, check with the Department of Labor and Industries to ensure your transporter is a certified installer. Call toll-free at 800-647-0982 or www.lni.wa.gov/TradesLicensing/FAS.

  1. If you applied for relocation assistance, check the packet for the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries’ Installer Contractors and Active Contractors list.
  2. Contact the Department of Labor and Industries and ask for a list of certified installers in your county. Call toll-free at 800-647-0982.

Yes, if the landlord follows RCW 59.20 or any related rules (RCW 59.20.070(8)).

RCW 59.21.105 requires cities and counties to waive fire, safety or construction codes if the codes will be used only because a home must relocate due to closure or conversion. But, there may be other reasons for a city or county to apply their codes. Please contact the building code office in the city or county you wish to relocate before making plans to move your home. You may also want to speak to an attorney.

Resources for Residents of Closing Communities

If you are aware of additional resources that may be helpful to add to this list, please contact us at omh@commerce.wa.gov, toll-free at 1-800-964-0852 or 360-725-2971.

 

  • Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) – ACRS empowers Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and other underserved immigrant and refugee communities by providing multilingual and multicultural services.
  • Lutheran Community Services Northwest – Lutheran Community Services helps WA residents, families, and immigrants with various services, including language services, community referrals, and connections to basic needs like food, housing, and employment.
  • National Immigration Legal Services Directory – The Immigration Advocates Network allows users to search for immigration legal services by zip code or detention facility. The directory includes nonprofits that provide free or low-cost services.
  • Washington State Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance – The Department of Social and Health Services’ Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance provides programs and services to help refugees and immigrants find economic self-sufficiency and cultural integration into Washington’s communities. Services include medical and mental health assistance, employment services, and naturalization services.
  • Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington, Immigration Legal Services – Immigration Legal Services provides high-quality legal consultations, representation, and assistance to documented and undocumented immigrants of all nationalities, ethnicities, and religions.
  • Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC) (Seattle) – CISC provides cultural resources by providing information, referrals, social and support services. In addition, they provide ESL and naturalization classes, family and youth services, domestic violence and crime victim services, and a technology center.
  • El Centro de la Raza (Seattle) – El Centro de la Raza advocates, educates, and organizes on behalf of the Latino community. They help minority populations experiencing homelessness.
  • Horn of Africa Services (HOAS) (Seattle) – HOAS provides multi-lingual and multicultural assistance to East African immigrants and refugees through education, referrals, and support.
  • Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center (KIAC) (Kitsap County) – KIAC provides legal immigration and language services and hosts family events. At these events, items are provided to persons in need, and medical clinics are available.
  • Korean Women’s Association of Washington (KWA) (Western WA) – KWA provides outreach and services to the Korean community in Western WA.
  • Tacoma Community House (South Puget Sound) – Tacoma Community House provides education and tutoring, employment help, immigration and citizenship assistance, and crime-victim advocacy.
  • West African Community Council (WACC) (Seattle) – WACC provides an early learning program for families of all backgrounds and cultures, provides legal immigration services, advocates for fair employment and job-hunting assistance.

2021 Session Legislation

Chapter 28, Laws of 2021 (ESSHB 1083) – Read our Relocation Assistance Distribution Methodology for more information about how Commerce distributes relocation assistance.

Read our Commerce Terms and RCW Equivalents to see which Relocation Assistance and Relocation Coordination program terms mean the same as terms in other RCWs.

Manufactured/Mobile Home Community Information

Interested in buying your manufactured/mobile home community?

The following organizations provide technical assistance or funding to preserve Washington’s manufactured/mobile home communities.

Manufactured Housing Communities Workgroup Report

The Washington State Legislature tasked the Department of Commerce to make recommendations, assess perspectives, and facilitate discussions about aspects of the Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.20). This work began in August 2019, with a final report submitted to the Legislature in December 2020. 

Contact

Automated Service Line

Phone: 800-964-0852
Email: OMH@Commerce.wa.gov

Mailing Address

Commerce/Manufactured and Mobile Home Relocation Assistance
P.O. 42525
Olympia, WA 98504

If English is not your primary language, we will call you back with the help of a telephone interpreter in the language you are most comfortable with.