In the often paycheck to paycheck world of mobile home living, many homeowners lack proper title and registrations for their dwellings. Some may owe thousands of dollars in fines and fees. But the state has opened up an amnesty program allowing mobile home owners to register their trailers and waive back taxes. Representatives from the state Department of Housing and Community Development visited San Jose Wednesday to help residents through the process. The state estimates as many as one-third of California’s 500,000 mobile homes lack proper papers. Santa Clara County has about 15,000 mobile homes in about 40 parks. “It’s been an ongoing challenge over the years,” said Ben Metcalf, director of the state Department of Housing and Community Development. “Sometimes, the owners of these homes don’t realize it.” Failing to have a proper title can shut owners out from obtaining insurance, passing along property to heirs, and protecting it during eviction proceedings. The program has reached more than a 1,000 mobile home owners and waived about $400,000 in fees since it started last year, Metcalf said.
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