The nation’s largest owners of manufactured housing communities conspired to raise rent on low-income and elderly residents via an “unlawful price-fixing cartel,” according to a new lawsuit filed in federal court last week.
Attorneys for two Illinois residents named as plaintiffs called the lawsuit an unprecedented move to hold the companies accountable for jacking up rents on the poorest Americans. Several of the other companies named in the suit — Equity LifeStyle Properties, Hometown America Management LLC, Lakeshore Communities Inc., Sun Communities Inc., RHP Properties Inc., Inspire Communities LLC, Kingsley Management Corp. and Cal-Am Properties Inc. — also control parks in the Centennial State.
“The effect of defendants’ conspiracy has been devastating to manufactured home residents,” the attorneys contend in the suit.