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  • Our Mission | DMHOA

    Our Mission DMHOA is an association dedicated to serving home owners on leased land The mission of the Delaware Manufactured Homeowners Association (DMHOA) is to educate and inform our members, our public servants, and the public regarding Title 25, Chapter 70 of Delaware Law and any issues affecting homeowners on leased land. We work for legislative and legal remedies to protect and strengthen the rights of homeowners who live in manufactured housing on leased land in communities with two or more lots in Delaware. Additionally, we strive to provide assistance and support to homeowners, helping them access the resources, guidance, and advocacy they need to navigate challenges and secure their rights. We maintain a direct communication network among state homeowner advocacy groups and serve as your voice at the state level, with the help of several powerful partner organizations who support our mission. We are also against unfair eviction or loss of homes due to the closure of communities. Homeowners deserve peace of mind and security in knowing they will have the opportunity to "age in place" rather than being displaced. In some respects, there is also a parallel meaning to the better-known term "homeland security". Many of our counterparts are unfairly subjected to insidious forms of economic and psychological intimidation by community owners and managers, which can take a devastating toll on one’s health and well-being. "Equity for All" reflects our belief that a partnership exists between homeowners and landowners in manufactured home communities and that homeowners deserve to have the equity in their investments protected and to be treated equitably. This is why you need to be a voice of one with a Home Owners Association. It provides you with many ways to help support your rights. Our History DMHOA had its beginnings as a county association 26 years ago, and has experienced tremendous growth in the last few years. This growth came about because of the greater awareness of manufactured homeowners as well as the issues and problems related to manufactured homes on leased land. In 2003 DMHOA was the moving force behind a complete revision of state law that gave homeowners the first real protection for their investment (home) in the history of Delaware. It was chartered as a statewide grass-roots advocacy group in March 2002 as a natural outgrowth of the Sussex County Manufactured Home Tenants Association, which had represented owners of manufactured homes in the state's fastest-growing county since 1983. *DMHOA is the only statewide advocacy organization in the Diamond State representing our interests regarding homes on leased land. For more information on how we can help you with your rights, contact Stacy Shelton at (443) 618-3782 or e-mail stacy.shelton@dmhoa.org . Some of the ways DMHOA helped homeowners living in manufactured housing on leased land Working with elected officials, landowners and the state CLASI resulted in: House bill 436 which allows you to transfer your current lot rent price to a new buyer Creating an OMBUDSMAN program to help protect your rights and your home House bill 46 establishing a “Legal Fund” to be used in disputes with landowners Senate bill 317 , a Rent Justification bill which: Eliminates Capital Improvements being passed on to homeowners. Landowners wishing to go to “Market Rent” must do it over a 7 or 10 year span. Landowner increased expenses can only be passed on to the homeowner if they can prove that the total expenses exceed prior year that the expense increase is more than the ½ Cpi-U plus 3 ½%. Provides a tiered asset/income structure making it easier to qualify for lot rent assistance. No rent increase if landowner has health and/or safety violations within the community until fixed.

  • Memberships | DMHOA

    Memberships and Donations We can't do this without YOU ! Your donations, regardless of the amount, will help our organization operate in various roles as we assist the people residing in manufactured home communities on leased land in Delaware. Some of these duties are as follows: Counseling those facing eviction or other actions by the landowners. Informing people of their rights under the law. Filing complaints with the Attorney General's Office. Following up on these complaints. Informing people of the procedures for arbitration under the new rent justification law. Working with legislators to level the playing field when passing laws that could possibly affect those living in land-leased communities. Updating those living in land-leased communities of new updates and proposed law changes via this website, social media, and monthly meetings open to the public. (Annual community fees are due March 1st and October 1st of each year to allow for changes or additions) Initial Fee: $25.00 (New Association one-time fee) Per member household fee: $4.00 (Yearly per member of HOA) Community memberships Community Memberships PAY WITH PAYPAL PAY VIA MAIL COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIPS: Download, fill out and sign our PDF and mail to : Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association PMB 5, 24832 John J. Williams Hwy., Unit 1 Millsboro, DE 19966 Use PayPal at right to pay dues. Use PayPal button for 1 Year Membership COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIPS: Download, fill out and sign our PDF and mail with your check to : Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association PMB 5, 24832 John J. Williams Hwy., Unit 1 Millsboro, DE 19966 Need to update DMHOA on officers? Click here to use our online form. Individual memberships Individual Memberships ONE YEAR MEMBERSHIP - $20 TWO YEAR MEMBERSHIP - $28 THREE YEAR MEMBERSHIP - $35 INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS: Fill out our online General Membership form to join DMHOA and use PayPal button below - OR - download our fillable PDF and mail with your check to : Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association PMB 5, 24832 John J. Williams Hwy., Unit 1 Millsboro, DE 19966 Use PayPal button for 1 Year Membership INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS: Fill out our online General Membership form to join DMHOA and use PayPal button below - OR - download our fillable PDF and mail with your check to : Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association PMB 5, 24832 John J. Williams Hwy., Unit 1 Millsboro, DE 19966 Use PayPal button for 2 Year Membership INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS: Fill out our online General Membership form to join DMHOA and use PayPal button below - OR - download our fillable PDF and mail with your check to : Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association PMB 5, 24832 John J. Williams Hwy., Unit 1 Millsboro, DE 19966 Use PayPal button for 3 Year Membership

  • General Membership Form | DMHOA

    General Membership Form NOTE THAT DMHOA DOES NOT SHARE OR SELL YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Individual Memberships: $20 for 1 year | $28 for 2 years | $35 for 3 years Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association PMB 5, 24832 John J. Williams Highway, Unit 1 Millsboro, DE 19966 (302) 945-2122 www.dmhoa.org The only statewide organization for owners of manufactured homes on leased land in Delaware. Also, a member of Manufactured Home Owners Association of. America. First name* Last name* Email* Phone Community Name* Address Does your community have a homeowner's association? Yes No If no, would you help to start one? Yes No Are you a registered voter? Yes No Submit

  • Issue or Concern in a MH Community | DMHOA

    Issue/Concern in a Manufactured Home Community INSTRUCTIONS Please complete this form with details about your question, concern or issue in your community. Providing this information helps us track data more effectively and respond more quickly. A DMHOA representative will contact you within 24-48 hours after we receive your submission. If you have photographs which support your claim, you may email those to stacy.shelton@dmhoa.org . In the body of your email, please describe what the photos are showing. Please note : This form does not apply to individuals who both rent the home and the lot where it is located. * - Indicates required question Mark which best describes your concern or question. Check all that apply.* Banning of friend or family member Eviction HOA Lot rent Request HELP Initiative Retaliation by management Trees Water/sewer lines Other Full name* Phone* Email* Community where you live* Do you have an HOA?* Are you a member of your HOA?* Describe the concern or issue:* Date concern started:* Month Day Year How many people are impacted by the concern or issue?* Submit

  • Home | DMHOA

    Educating and advocating for home owners living in manufactured housing on leased land for over 20 years DONATE Become a Member Subscribe to our Emails How DMHOA has made a difference Here are testimonials from just some of the home owners that DMHOA has helped: My landlord wasn't aware of rental assistance and how it worked. I reached out to DMHOA and they acted as my liaison with the managers so I could get the assistance that I needed. I'm so grateful for their help! I’m proud to volunteer now to help others the way DMHOA helped me. Karen O'Keefe My husband and I moved here from New York in 2011. At that time there was no rent stabilization legislation, no Chapter 70 and no efforts to protect manufactured housing homeowners. Because of the hard work and efforts by DMHOA, this is no longer the case. The legislators know and respect DMHOA and its membership and are paying attention Neil Northway On behalf of the High Point Park Residents Association I want express our deepest gratitude to all those who took time out of their busy lives to participate in the DMHOA door hanging promotion in our community. I am confident that your efforts were not in vain and will help our HOA grow. More importantly however, is at the very least, we've armed our residents with the information and tools necessary to protect their rights as manufactured homeowners on leased land. Fredy Mujica Compared to our previous local landowner our current out of state landowner has increased our lot rents 4-5 times higher every year. DMHOA helped us form an HOA, which has been instrumental in helping us fight the rent increases and get action for our failing septic systems. Robert Ray

  • FAQs | DMHOA

    Frequently Asked Questions Please reach out to us at stacy.shelton@dmhoa.org if you cannot find an answer to your question. We have trees on our lot that need trimmed or removed, what should we do? Landowners are responsible - Chapter 7008 l. Maintain, care for, and remove, if necessary, trees on any lot, including common areas, if the tree is at least 25 feet in height or has a main stem or trunk larger than 6 inches in diameter. Such maintenance, care, and removal means those steps required to maintain a live and healthy tree condition per standard horticultural practices in accordance with the standards as set forth by the American Association of Nurserymen. Contact your management office via email with pictures and explain issue, include your HOA in the email. If not addressed, follow up every few weeks on status of trees Maintain documentation of all communications How much can they increase my rent each year? A formula is used that consists of 3½% + ½ average 24-month CPI-U See 7052 of the Delaware Code for details. What is the current CPI-U? Click this CPI-U link to get the update at the DEMHRA website. How can I get help with my lot rent? Click this link to download a detailed PDF regarding the Lot Rental Assistance Program. How do I transfer my lease to the person buying my home? Click this link to a detailed page regarding how to transfer your lease. How can I ensure that my family can take over my home when I pass away? To transfer ownership of the home to the heirs, you must add a Transfer-on-Death (TOD) to the title at the DMV. Follow these steps: 1. The homeowners(s) need to visit the local DMV Office with their title, a MV-2025 form signed by the beneficiary and a copy of the beneficiary’s license. * MV - 2025 Transfer on Death Application : (click to download) * Pay $35 at the DMV office and they will create a new Delaware title from the existing Delaware title to indicate it is a transfer on death title. 2.. When the owner(s) pass, heirs take the original title, original death certificate(s), identification, and a new tax letter from the tax office to the DMV and the title will be issued in the heirs’ name. What is the purpose of DNREC doing site visits in manufactured home communities? Click version to read more (PDFs): English Spanish Haitian Which communities will DNREC be visiting to be assess private wells and septics? Click here to open the list (PDF). Manufactured Delaware Code Online

  • Photo Gallery | DMHOA

    Photo Gallery Click thumbnails to see large photos with descriptions HELP INITIATIVE SIGNING AND EVENT DMHOA AT WORK DMHOA MEETINGS

  • Events Calendar | DMHOA

    Events calendar General Membership Meetings are held on the 4th Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Held at: Delaware State Police Troop 7 at 19444 Mulberry Knoll Rd., Lewes DE 19958. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. Board of Directors Meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. REMINDER : All members of an HOA that belong to DMHOA or anyone who lives on leased land are welcome to attend DMHOA general meetings. Any member of an HOA requesting to speak at a scheduled BOD meeting should contact the Executive Director Stacy Shelton to schedule. Check our Facebook page for any possible meeting changes. Questions? Call us at ( 302) 945-2122 And find us on Facebook: Click here Event dates are in yellow. Click on the event to see details of each event.

  • How to start an HOA | DMHOA

    How to start an HOA Use this handy checklist to ensure that your new HOA in Delaware conforms to all the laws Once your community has made the decision to establish an HOA, the following steps will need to be taken: 1. There will have to be a minimum of five (5) acting officers appointed. These acting officers will include the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and one (1) Board of Directors. The individuals appointed to these positions will be in an interim capacity until your HOA is established and the community can schedule and hold a regular election meeting. 2. Create a set of community by-laws to govern the operation of your HOA. A good example of a by-law template that conforms to state requirements can be provided by the Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association (DMHOA). This template can be modified to suit any nuances of your community. 3. A Certificate of Incorporation/Non-Stock Corporation must be completed. This form can be obtained at https://corp.delaware.gov/corpformscorp09/ under the Non-Stock Corporation -Incorporation Forms. Print the form, complete it, and mail it to the following: DE Division of Corporations 401 Federal Street, Suite 4 Dover, DE 19901 There is a one-time charge of $139.00 ($89.00 filing fee and $50.00 Certified Copy Fee) that must be included with the completed form. 4. Upon completion of your by-laws, they must be faxed, emailed or mailed to the Delaware Relocation Trust Authority (RTA). This is required for the proper registration of your HOA. There is no fee required for this action. Fax # 302-674-7768 Attn: Executive Director 5. To apply for your non-profit HOA Employee Identification Number (EIN), go to www.irs.gov . There is no fee for this action. 6. You will receive, via the email address you provided to the State, a State of Delaware Annual Franchise Tax Report. This is a report that your HOA responds to annually. There is a $25.00 fee for exempt domestic corporations. 7. Your HOA is required to file an annual US Income Tax Return for Homeowners Associations with the IRS for your non-profit HOA. You can get Form 1120 H or 990 tax forms by going to https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions . 8. Your HOA will have twenty-seven (27) months from the date of the filing of the Certificate of Incorporation (See #3) with the State of Delaware to file Form your non-profit 501(c)(4) classification. You only need to complete Parts I through III and Section B (See Part IV of the 1024 instructions for an explanation of the filing deadline requirements). This classification is specifically for HOAs. It can be completed on-line at: www.irs.gov ., but it must be signed and mailed back. There is a one-time $400.00 fee that must be attached to a short Form 8718. Explanation of 501(c)(3) vs 501(c)(4) is provided below for your information. Overall, a 501(c)(4) is generally cheaper to establish than a 501(c)(3) because its application process is simpler and carries a much lower IRS filing fee. However, a 501(c)(3) can provide long-term financial advantages through its ability to accept tax-deductible donations, which is a major benefit for fundraising. 9. With the completion of the above steps, you will be properly incorporated, registered, and certified as the official HOA representing your community. 10. Your next actions are to schedule meetings, build your membership, determine your annual membership dues, hold general elections for officers, set up a committee of volunteer members to make any revisions needed to your by-laws, plan activities, address problems, and most importantly enjoy and support your HOA. 11. Important: Remember that if your HOA has an election and officers or board members change, or if your HOA makes any revisions to its by-laws, you must provide the updated information to RTA (See #4). 12. Important: Build on the strength of your HOA by joining the Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association (DMHOA) . DMHOA is a state-wide organization that advocates for all manufactured home owners on leased land. DMHOA’s ability to affect positive change for your community depends on the support of your community. The cost is minimal, and the benefits are priceless! Your HOA can join DMHOA for a one-time $25.00 membership fee plus your HOA’s annual DMHOA dues of $4.00 per HOA member household. FOR EXAMPLE: if you have 50 homes in your community and 30 are dues-paying members of your HOA; your annual DMHOA dues would be $120.00. When an HOA is a DMHOA member and pays its annual dues, then each member-household is automatically a DMHOA member. DMHOA holds regular monthly General Membership meetings, and members are encouraged to attend. The meetings cover many critical issues, invite open discussion, and allow any member who wishes to speak an opportunity to be heard. There are often guest speakers who discuss a variety of topics. The Delaware DOJ's Consumer Fraud Division has more information and access to a number of useful pamphlets about HOAs at this address: https://attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/fraud/cpu/ombudsperson/hoa/ . Comparison: 501(c)(3) vs. 501(c)(4) 501(c)(3) organizations (Charities) 501(c)(4) organizations (Social Welfare Organizations) PURPOSE Must operate "exclusively" for charitable, religious, educational, or scientific purposes. Must operate "primarily" for the promotion of social welfare and the common good. TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS Contributions are tax-deductible for the donor. Contributions are generally not tax-deductible for the donor. POLITICAL AND LOBBYING ACTIVITY Political campaigns: • Are strictly prohibited from participating or intervening in any political campaign for or against a candidate. Lobbying: Can engage in limited lobbying activities, but it cannot be a "substantial part" of their overall activities. Political campaigns: • Can engage in some political campaign activities, including endorsing candidates, as long as it does not become their primary purpose. Lobbying: Can engage in unlimited lobbying as long as it is related to their mission. DONOR DISCLOSURE Public charities must disclose donors who meet certain thresholds on Schedule B of their annual Form 990, though donor information is typically redacted for public inspection. Do not need to publicly disclose donor information to the IRS. This has led to the rise of so-called "dark money" in U.S. politics. IRS RECOGNITION Must file an application (Form 1023 or 1023-EZ) and receive recognition from the IRS to be considered tax-exempt. Can "self-declare" their tax-exempt status by simply operating as a 501(c)(4) and filing Form 8976 with the IRS. Many still opt to seek formal IRS recognition. RELATED ORGANIZATIONS Public charities must disclose donors who meet certainMany organizations maintain both a 501(c)(3) arm for charitable work and a 501(c)(4) arm for more extensive lobbying. The two must operate as separate legal entities with strict separation of assets and funding. thresholds on Schedule B of their annual Form 990, though donor information is typically redacted for public inspection. Many organizations maintain both a 501(c)(3) arm for charitable work and a 501(c)(4) arm for more extensive lobbying. The two must operate as separate legal entities with strict separation of assets and funding. DOWNLOAD CHECKLIST (PDF)

  • DMHOA-Sponsored Bills | DMHOA

    DMHOA-Sponsored Bills House Bill 193 was signed into law on Sept. 3, 2025. To see the entire Bill go to: https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142410 Key parts of House Bill 193 we want you to know: This bill changes the distribution of the $1.50 fee that homeowners were paying with their monthly lot rents. Previous Distribution: $1.00 allocated for the Relocation Trust Fund and $.50 allocated for an attorney fund to support manufactured homeowners. Community landowners matched each $1.00 for the relocation fund. New Distribution: The entire $1.50 fee will be directed to the Delaware Manufactured Home Owner Attorney fund effective January 1, 2026. The Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI) currently holds the contract in Delaware to provide legal assistance to manufactured homeowners on leased land. This will provide more money for CLASI so they can better support our homeowners when they need help. Senate Bill 56 with Senate Substitute #2: This is an edited version of the adopted Bill from the 153rd General Assembly in late 2025. https://legis.delaware.gov/SessionLaws/Chapter?id=42368 Our Editing : we have removed strikethroughs and insertions as noted in Section 1 below and added appropriate paragraph indentations. We have also applied yellow highlights to specific text about buying or selling a manufactured home on leased land, or the death of a homeowner. Please remember that this document shows only the changes made by this Bill. We highly recommend that you read the entire Chapter 70 of Title 25 which is found online at: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title25/c070/index.html At the end of this document, DMHOA provides a recap of “Important Issues to Consider When Selling Your Home” for your convenience. DOWNLOAD SB56 PDF

  • Meet Our Board of Directors | DMHOA

    Meet our Board of Directors The Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association is led by a dedicated group of volunteers who live in manufactured home communities and understand the challenges residents face every day. Our Board of Directors represents homeowners from across the state, bringing experience, compassion, and commitment to the mission of protecting the rights of those who own their homes but lease their land. Together, they work tirelessly to guide DMHOA’s advocacy, education, and community outreach efforts—ensuring that every homeowner’s voice is heard in Dover and beyond. Joyce O'Neal President WHITE HOUSE BEACH Beth McGinn Veteran Affairs Director MARINER'S COVE Ron Amadio Director at Large BAY CITY Stacy Shelton Executive Director -- Janet Toulson Treasurer WHITE HOUSE BEACH Teresa Walters Membership Director POT NETS LAKESIDE Jerry Brainard Director at Large VILLAGE AT COOL BRANCH Rich Hrycyshyn Director at Large BARCLAY FARMS Steve Abruzzi Fundraising Director POT NETS LAKESIDE Craig Rein Director at Large POT NETS BAYSIDE Not pictured: Legislation Director: P.J. McGill Director at Large: Erin Lee Director at Large: Mike Gray Past President: Henry Clum BECOME A VOLUNTEER!

  • Other HOA Events | DMHOA

    Other HOA events We regularly organize events to bring manufactured homeowners together and create opportunities for people to learn more and get involved in our organization. Support Your Community HOA by attending events that they hold: Aspen Meadows HOA Barclay Farms Home Owners Association Bayside Homeowners Association Cool Branch Home Owners Association Camelot Meadows Mariner's Cove Home Owners Association Rehoboth Bay Homeowners Association Shady Park Homeowners Association White House Beach Homeowners Association Wild Meadows HOA Most events are OPEN to the PUBLIC but please contact the particular HOA for verification or if you need more details.

  • Important Links | DMHOA

    Important Links Follow the Bill Visit the General Assembly website to find and track a bill! Search for any type of legislation within the General Assembly. Find Your Legislator This tool shows the new district information from the General Election. Click to visit Chapter 70 of Title 25 entire version is found online at: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title25/c070/index.html Manufactured Housing Ombudsperson's Summary of Delaware Code Title 25 Ch. 70 CLICK HERE TO VIEW OR DOWNLOAD

  • Habitat for Humanity | DMHOA

    Habitat for Humanity Tornadoes, Flooding, Hurricanes and Nor'easters are just a few of the challenges we face living near the coast. Get trained & become part of a CERT team. To contact the state representative, email Marny McLee or call 302-659-2243. Below is information for each of our counties. Programs by County Sussex County (302) 855-1153 info@centraldelawarehabitat.org or visit their website Kent County (302) 526-2366 info@centraldelawarehabitat.org or visit their website New Castle County ( 302) 652-0365 info@habitatncc.org or visit their website

  • Why Your Donation Matters | DMHOA

    Why Your Donation Matters Your tax-deductible donation helps DMHOA: Expand educational and legal information for homeowners and HOAs Provide guidance and emergency support to vulnerable residents Strengthen advocacy for fair and affordable housing Join us Your support—at any level—makes a real difference . Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to DMHOA today and help protect Delaware’s manufactured homeowners. Together, we can build stronger, more secure communities. Your donation empowers DMHOA to stand behind approx. 40,000 residents who rely on us to protect their homes, their stability, and their future Imagine owning the roof over your head but not the ground beneath it—living with constant uncertainty, rising costs, and challenges you cannot solve alone. For manufactured housing homeowners living on leased land within the 170 communities throughout the state, this is not hypothetical. It is daily life. DMHOA is the only statewide organization in Delaware dedicated to defending these homeowners. We fight for fair treatment, stronger protections, and thriving communities. Your support strengthens their voice, safeguards their rights, and helps ensure that every Delaware family living in a manufactured home can feel secure, respected, and heard. What DMHOA does We work directly with homeowners and homeowners’ associations in leased land communities across Delaware by: Educating residents about their rights Providing guidance in landlord-related issues Strengthening and supporting local communities But our support goes further. Through partnerships with Habitat for Humanity and the HELP Initiative, we also assist seniors, people with disabilities, and families facing financial hardship by connecting them to emergency repairs, advocacy, and critical resources. Advocacy that works DMHOA also advocates at the state level to protect and strengthen laws impacting manufactured homeowners on leased land. Our advocacy has led to meaningful changes, giving residents a stronger voice and greater security. DONATE TO HELP DMHOA Donations accepted via PayPal - all major credit cards accepted DMHOA is a non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible. E-mail us if you would like a receipt. Click here to donate

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