MOORPARK : Owner of Mobile-Home Park to Follow New Law

The owner of Moorpark’s largest mobile-home park has told city officials that he will adhere to terms of a rent-control ordinance approved by voters last month, ending a city probe into possible violations of the ordinance.

The City Council on Wednesday said the city had received a letter from representatives of Dale Williams, owner of the 240-unit Villa del Arroyo mobile-home park, saying he would abide by terms of the rent control ordinance overwhelmingly approved by voters April 13.

Responding to complaints by present and prospective tenants, the council last week decided to investigate allegations that Williams was requiring new tenants to sign multi-year leases, instead of giving tenants the option of a month-to-month lease as required by state law.

City officials said multi-year leases are advantageous to Williams because they are exempt from rent control. Month-to-month leases would be subject to city rent control.

“Essentially, we caught them red-handed,” Councilman Scott Montgomery said of leasing practices at the park. “They reversed their decision and are no longer twisting the arms of people looking to move in there.”

Council members vowed Wednesday to continue to monitor leasing activities at the park and agreed to send letters to real estate agents reminding them that month-to-month leases must be offered to all new park tenants.