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DelawareSB 56153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 25 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MANUFACTURED HOME TITLE TRANSFERS.

Sponsored By: Kyra L. Hoffner (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Ban on coercive buyouts and penalties

Landlords cannot pressure you to sell your home to them. You can sue for your actual losses. If a court finds willful misconduct, the landlord must pay the greater of three times your actual damages or three times the monthly rent, plus court costs. The landlord can also be barred from buying any tenant’s home for 365 days.

Home sellers: notice and buyout rules

If you plan to sell a manufactured home and the buyer will keep it in the community, you must give the landlord written notice at least 3 weeks before closing. After notice, the landlord can buy your home for 110% of the contract price by replying within 7 days and paying a 5% nonrefundable deposit, then closing on the same schedule. The landlord also has a separate option to buy at 1% above your contract price by giving written notice within 5 business days and setting settlement within 14 days. Before the landlord knows you plan to sell, they can instead pay you an amount equal to 12 months of lot rent to stop the lease transfer; this ends once you send the sale notice or the landlord knew or should have known. If you do not give the 3‑week notice, the landlord can end your tenancy.

Standards, inspections, time to repair

Landlords must use reasonable, written standards for resale and retention that focus on appearance, maintenance, safety, and code compliance. Age of the home cannot be the main reason to block a sale. If the landlord does not buy the home, they may inspect the exterior within 10 days after your sale notice and must give a written list of violations within 3 days. Buyers who become tenants have up to 3 years to finish required changes, though life‑ or safety‑related work can be required sooner. If required work was not done before sale, the buyer must deposit 120% of the estimated repair cost into a joint account; tenants can request a reevaluation and the landlord must recheck within 10 days. If required work is not finished on time, the landlord can file a summary possession (eviction) case.

Stronger protections for heirs after death

Leases do not end because a tenant dies, even if they were the last person on the lease. The lot lease transfers to buyers, heirs, or the estate when a home is sold or inherited. Heirs usually do not need a full tenant application unless they will live there; then only a criminal background check can be required, and partial owners cannot be barred from living there. The law defines heirs to include people who inherit by will, state rules, or a transfer‑on‑death form. The landlord must wait at least 90 days after the last tenant’s death before starting eviction, though locks may be changed for safety. Estates or heirs must tell the landlord the new owners and contact details. If estate administration delays rent, the estate or heirs can raise that as a defense in eviction court, though late fees and court costs can still apply.

Buyer applications and must-buy rule

A community owner may require a buyer to submit a tenancy application and pay an application fee. After a complete application and fee are received, the landlord must decide within 10 days and give written reasons if rejecting; the same standards used for other tenants must apply. A lot lease can transfer only if the home meets the park’s written retention standards and the landlord accepts the transferee. If a buyer has a written purchase agreement and the landlord rejects that buyer, the landlord must purchase the home under the same price and timing rules as the right of first refusal. If accepted, the seller or heir chooses to assign the current lease to the buyer, or to end it and let the buyer sign a new lease at rent set by the landlord.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Kyra L. Hoffner

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • William J. Carson

    Democratic • House

  • Sherae'a Moore

    Democratic • House

  • Claire Snyder-Hall

    Democratic • House

  • David L. Wilson

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. SS 2 for SB 56 - Signed by Governor

    9/3/2025Governor

  2. SS 2 for SB 56 - Passed By House. Votes: 39 YES 1 ABSENT 1 VACANT

    6/26/2025House

  3. SS 2 for SB 56 - Reported Out of Committee (Housing) in House with 8 On Its Merits

    6/17/2025House

  4. SS 2 for SB 56 - Assigned to Housing Committee in House

    6/12/2025House

  5. SS 2 for SB 56 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 18 YES 1 NOT VOTING 2 ABSENT

    6/12/2025Senate

  6. SS 2 for SB 56 - Reported Out of Committee (Housing & Land Use) in Senate with 3 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits

    6/11/2025Senate

  7. Substituted in Senate by SS 2 for SB 56

    6/10/2025Senate

  8. Substituted in Senate by SS 1 for SB 56

    5/20/2025Senate

  9. Introduced and Assigned to Housing & Land Use Committee in Senate

    2/20/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Current

    2/20/2025

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