The most vulnerable homeowners in New Mexico and elsewhere are individuals who purchase manufactured homes, often from landowners who lease land and provide infrastructure and amenities. In these communities, commonly referred to as Mobile Home Parks, a landowner leases land to homeowners. In New Mexico, the landowner rights are protected and prioritized. It is a situation ripe for abuse and suffering.
There are innumerable examples of resident hardships and abuses in New Mexico and throughout the country, as well as many that have gone unreported. Without legal protections, it is just a matter of time before the next crisis occurs.
Legal Injustices and Exploitation
Homeowners in lot-lease manufactured home communities often lack protections because they are still treated as “mobile home park” residents. The language itself creates the illusion that their homes can simply be moved somewhere else. In reality, most cannot be moved at all, and that illusion of mobility helps keep these communities—and the people who live in them—invisible in housing policy and public awareness.
In 2020, residents of Aztec Village in Albuquerque filed a class-action lawsuit against Nodel Parks LLC, alleging illegal fines and eviction threats for minor infractions. These fines were not part of official community rules, and residents were threatened with eviction. The lawsuit highlighted violations of the New Mexico Mobile Home Park Act.
Sources:
- https://www.nmpovertylaw.org/2020/01/30/mobile-home-park-residents-fight-illegal-fines-and-eviction/
- https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/mobile-home-park-resident-suing-property-owners-for-mistreatment-unfair-fines/
In 2023, a couple residing in Dale Mobile Village received a 30-day eviction notice without any stated reason, violating the Mobile Home Park Act’s requirement for detailed cause.
- Source: https://sourcenm.com/2023/03/03/mobile-home-park-tenants-get-eviction-notice-after-45-years/
In 2025, resident homeowners leasing lots in Aztec, New Mexico, were presented with a 73% rent increase and changes in rules that do not comply with New Mexico’s Mobile Home Park Act, and illegal eviction notices when the land under their homes was sold to Capital Communities, a Tennessee investment company.
Nine hundred homes destroyed and thousands of people were evicted to make way for an “affordable housing” development.
Neglect and Unsafe Living Conditions
Residents report neglect and unsafe conditions. In Alamogordo, Amber Skies Mobile Home Park faced water outages and a broken security gate. At White Sands Manufactured Home and RV Community, gas leaks led to prolonged shutoffs: People went 8 months without natural gas. They received discounted rend while suffering without hot water, heat, or the ability to cook. After it was repaired, rents went up. The landlord/business is responsible for infrastructure, but often defer maintenance to maximize profits with homeowners paying the price with utility outages and sewage backing up into occupied homes.
Sources:
- https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/n/273261/residents-continue-face-water-and-security-concerns-amber-skies-mobile
- https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/gas-shut-off-again-for-white-sands-mobile-home-park/
Lack of Visibility, Protections, & Enforcement
Homeowners in lot-lease manufactured home communities often lack meaningful protections because they are still treated as “mobile home park” residents. The outdated term creates the illusion that homes can simply be moved if problems arise. In reality, most homes cannot be moved, and the misconception helps keep these communities—and the homeowners who live in them—largely invisible in housing policy. Too often, that invisibility is not accidental but embedded in the way these communities are regulated and understood.
New Mexico’s Mobile Home Park Act, enacted in the 1980s is not adequate nor enforced.
https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/4-investigates-the-mobile-home-park-act
The Los Alamos Reporter notes many parks do not comply with state statutes regarding rental agreements and rule changes.
- https://losalamosreporter.com/2022/05/30/los-alamos-reporter-article-on-mobile-home-park-tenants/
Advocacy and Resources
Organizations such as the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty and New Mexico Legal Aid provide legal assistance. Legislation, such as Senate Bill 298 in 2023 and House Bills 418, 426, and 442 introduced in 2025, have attempted to enact protections for homeowners (see Legislative Initiatives https://manufacturedhomeownersalliance.org/legislative-initiatives/).
Investigative Series by Ryan Laughlin
Out-of-State Ownership and Rising Rents
Laughlin’s report highlights companies like Legacy Communities raising rents at parks like Albuquerque Meadows, affecting seniors and fixed-income residents.
- https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/4-investigates-out-of-state-housing-game-squeezes-mobile-home-owners/
Legislative Efforts and Resident Advocacy
House Bills 426 and 442 proposed protections including resident purchasing rights and rent caps, though they faced challenges in legislation.
- https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/4-investigates-protections-for-mobile-park-residents-in-roundhouse/
- https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/hb-426-can-protect-affordable-housing-and-strengthen-communities/article_898c9988-0062-11f0-91a6-c3f6e0d39387.html
- https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/n/295589/op-ed-new-mexico-hm35-ploy-kill-hb418-and-hb-442
Community Mobilization and Local Ordinances
Albuquerque City Council passed a bill allowing residents a chance to purchase their land, providing long-term stability.
- https://www.kob.com/news/4-investigates/4-investigates-mobile-home-residents-get-win-in-city-council/