27 V.S.A. § ___ § 1354
Election period
Operative Text
(a) The declarant shall provide leaseholders an election period of at least six months from the date that notice of intent to convert a manufactured home park is given, to allow leaseholders to consider their options to either purchase their site, or to vote against conversion. (b) During the election period, the declarant, representatives of the leaseholders, members of the department of housing and community affairs, and advocates of the leaseholders shall have access to the manufactured home park and the leaseholders to facilitate meetings and informational sessions so that the leaseholders may evaluate their options prior to voting on the proposed conversion. (c) Leaseholders shall vote either to pursue a conversion or not to pursue a conversion before the end of the election period. Each leaseholder shall have one vote per leasehold, except that no leaseholder shall have more than 30 percent of the aggregate park vote. The commissioner shall assist the leaseholders to hold an election using secret ballots. (d) If leaseholders representing at least 70 percent of the leaseholds elect to pursue a conversion, the declarant may proceed toward conversion by following the requirements under sections 1355-1362 of this subchapter. (e) If leaseholders representing less than 70 percent of the leaseholds elect to pursue a conversion, a conversion shall not take place without providing additional notice pursuant to section 1353 of this title. (Added 1993, No. 97, § 1.)
Under 27 V.S.A. ch. 15 § 1354, when a manufactured home park owner (the declarant) announces an intent to convert the park, residents (leaseholders) must be given at least six months to weigh their options—including purchasing their individual site or voting against the conversion. During this election period, leaseholders, housing department representatives, and leaseholder advocates are all entitled to access the park to hold meetings and informational sessions. The conversion can only move forward if at least 70 percent of leaseholds vote in favor; otherwise, the declarant must restart the notice process before any conversion can proceed.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 27 V.S.A. ch. 15 § 1354, a declarant initiating a manufactured home park conversion is generally expected to provide a formal notice of intent that triggers a minimum six-month election period before any conversion steps can proceed. Compliant operators ensure that leaseholders, their advocates, and representatives from the Department of Housing and Community Affairs have unobstructed access to the park for informational meetings throughout that period. Proceeding toward conversion requires a documented outcome showing that at least 70 percent of leaseholds voted in favor, using the secret-ballot process facilitated by the commissioner.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 1354 of Title 27 of the Vermont Statutes gives manufactured home park residents a protected window of at least six months after receiving a conversion notice to evaluate their choices, including the option to purchase their site or to vote against the conversion. During this election period, residents have the right to host or attend informational meetings on the park property, with support available from Department of Housing and Community Affairs representatives and leaseholder advocates. Residents who believe their election-period rights are being denied—such as being blocked from meetings or not receiving proper notice—may consider reaching out to the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs or a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options under § 1354.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation