Rising Lot Rents Spark Concern at Upper Township Mobile Home Park

Upper Township, N.J. – Residents of the Osprey Cove mobile home community are pushing back against a steep rent hike they say could price them out of their homes. Osprey Cove, a 110-unit, 55-and-older park along Route 9, is facing a 30% lot rent increase effective June 1. Monthly charges are set to jump from $714 to $925, the latest in a series of annual hikes since 2021. Some residents say the rising costs are unsustainable for those living on fixed incomes. The increase follows a change in ownership and comes without any apparent rent caps in place. A group of residents brought their concerns to the Upper Township Committee at an April 28 meeting, asking officials whether any protections exist or could be considered. No formal action was taken, though one committee member offered to continue the conversation privately. Local governments in neighboring towns have also heard similar complaints from manufactured home park residents. In Lower Township, legal action was taken against one owner after a 42% increase over three years. Middle Township, which has a rent control ordinance, recently amended it to limit annual increases to 3.5% or the inflation rate, whichever is lower. A state bill, A3361, which would cap lot rent increases statewide at 3% annually, has passed the legislature but is still awaiting the governor’s signature. Residents at Osprey Cove hope the legislation is signed into law in time to bring relief next year.