Code of Alabama - Title 35: Property - Section 35-12A-8 - Sale of abandoned dwelling and personal property

Section 35-12A-8 - Sale of abandoned dwelling and personal property.

(a) If the tenant does not respond within the time provided by the manufactured dwelling community owner's notice, or the tenant does not remove the manufactured dwelling or personal property within 45 days after responding to the manufactured dwelling community owner or by any other date agreed to with the manufactured dwelling community owner, whichever is later, the manufactured dwelling community owner may sell the abandoned manufactured dwelling and personal property as provided in this section.

(b) With regard to the manufactured dwelling, prior to sale, the manufactured dwelling community owner shall do all of the following:

(1) Place a notice to be run once per week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the manufactured dwelling is located. The notice shall state all of the following:

a. That the manufactured dwelling is abandoned and will be sold in the manner provided in the notice. The manufactured dwelling shall be described with reasonable certainty.

b. The tenant's and owner's name if of record or actually known to the manufactured dwelling community owner.

c. The address and any space number where the manufactured dwelling is located, and if actually known to the manufactured dwelling community owner, the plate, registration, or other identification number as noted on the certificate of title.

d. Whether the sale is by private bidding or public auction and that the manufactured dwelling community owner is authorized to purchase the manufactured dwelling pursuant to the method of sale described in the notice. In the case of a public auction, the date, place, and time of the auction shall be included in the notice.

e. Whether the manufactured dwelling community owner is accepting sealed bids and, if so, the last date on which bids will be accepted. The date, time, and place where the winning bid will be awarded shall also be included in the notice.

f. The name and telephone number of the person to contact to inspect the manufactured dwelling.

(2) No later than 30 days prior to the sale date, provide a copy of the notice required by subdivision (1) to any lienholder by certified or registered mail, verified by return receipt.

(c) With regard to personal property, including the contents of the manufactured dwelling and any personal property left on the rented space outside a manufactured dwelling, the manufactured dwelling community owner shall store the abandoned personal property as provided for in Section 35-12A-6. Prior to selling the personal property, the manufactured dwelling community owner must hold the personal property for 45 days after mailing notice to the tenant or the tenant's designated agent at the last known address of the tenant or the tenant's agent or by delivering a copy of the notice to the last known address of the tenant or the tenant's agent. The manufactured dwelling community owner is entitled to reasonable storage charges as provided in Section 35-12A-6 prior to surrendering the property to the tenant or the tenant's agent.

(Act 2003-516, 2nd Sp. Sess., p. 1537, §1; Act 2014-167, p. 475, §1.)

Last modified: May 3, 2021