(1) As provided by this section, any lien or charge against a mobile home for storage upon the real property on which the mobile home is or has been located is subordinate to the rights of a lienholder for unpaid purchase price or first lien, which is recorded on the title of the mobile home, and the assignee of such lienholder if not recorded on the title. However, storage charges, as provided in this section, may be collected by the real property owner from the lienholder and the assignee of such lienholder by an action at law as authorized by this act. The term “lienholder” as used in this act applies only to the lienholder for unpaid purchase price or first lien who has recorded said lien on the title of the mobile home.

(2) The real property owner shall be entitled to collect storage charges accruing from 5 days after the lienholder receives written notice of either an eviction proceeding instituted by the real property owner against the homeowner, or that the mobile home is abandoned or voluntarily surrendered by the homeowner. The notice shall state that an action for eviction has been filed against the homeowner, the amount of the daily storage charges calculated pursuant to this section, and the date upon which the homeowner is required to make regular payments to the property owner.

(3) The lienholder must notify the property owner within 30 days of receipt of the notice pursuant to subsection (2) whether it intends to make payment of the storage charges and, if the lienholder agrees to make payment, to pay the storage charges accruing to that date. Thereafter, the lienholder shall pay storage charges according to the schedule of payments that the homeowner was responsible for paying. In the event that the lienholder does not notify the property owner of its intention to not pay storage charges, the storage charges shall accrue and be due and owing to the property owner. In the event the lienholder notifies the property owner within 30 days of the receipt of the notice that it does not intend to pay the storage charges, the storage charges shall not accrue, but the lienholder shall not be entitled to any of the protections set forth in this act, and shall be subject to any remedies available to the property owner including retention of possession of the mobile home and foreclosure thereon to satisfy the landlord’s lien for rent.

(4) In the event that the lienholder files either an action for replevin of the home or forecloses on the lien for unpaid purchase price or first lien, the lienholder is responsible for storage charges accrued from 30 days after the date of filing of the action for replevin or foreclosure.

(5) In the event that the homeowner declares bankruptcy, the lienholder is responsible for storage charges accrued from and after 5 days after the final court action discharging the bankruptcy, or releasing the collateral, whichever occurs first.

(6) The maximum storage charge available to the real property owner is a daily rate equal to one-thirtieth of the amount of the monthly payment last paid by the homeowner, the then-current lot rental amount paid by the homeowner, or if no payment has been made, the payment required pursuant to contract between the real property owner and the homeowner. The maximum daily storage charges may be increased over time in accordance with the notice requirements under applicable provisions of Florida law, including, but not limited to, this chapter.

(7) Notice required as set forth in subsection (2) shall be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested. Notice by certified mail shall be effective on the date of receipt or, if refused, on the date of refusal. All other notices may be by regular mail, and will, for purposes of calculation of time, be considered delivered 5 days after the date postmarked.

(8) For any lien for unpaid purchase price or first lien recorded after April 8, 1992, the lienholder shall notify the property owner of the lien against the mobile home and the address of the lienholder.

(9) It shall be unlawful for the property owner to refuse to allow the lienholder to repossess and move the mobile home for failure to pay any charges which were not noticed in accordance with the requirements of this section. In the event that the real property owner refuses to allow the lienholder to repossess and move the mobile home, then the real property owner shall be liable to the lienholder for each day that the real property owner unlawfully maintains possession of the home, at a daily rate equal to one-thirtieth of the monthly payment last paid by the homeowner to the real property owner, or, if no payment has been made, the payment required pursuant to contract between the real property owner and the homeowner.

History.—s. 16, ch. 92-148; s. 62, ch. 95-211.