The Tropicana Mobile Home Community, located in Moscow Mills Missouri, primarily consists of residents who are either retired or on a fixed income. Recently, and abruptly, the trailer park sold the Southern portion of its park. Under Missouri SB 753, the seller was required to give all tenants notice prior to the sell, they failed to do so. The resulting aftermath of this sell has created an uproar within the affected community.

Upon completion of the purchase, residents were met with notes, which were hung from their doors in plastic bags. The notes simply informed the tenants of the sell. Though the first letter was questionable, it wouldn’t be the only letter delivered in such format. A second letter informed the residents of rent increases, upwards of 36%. The letter continued to inform the residents that they were required to sign a new lease, one which has many residents questioning the legalities. Finally, the letter informs the residents that they are to provide a copy of their home deeds to the new owners, Jones Estates.

Upon lease signing, many residents have noted that the lease was backdated. Any resident who wished to review the lease was immediately threatened with eviction. In one instance, a resident was threatened for refusing to sign her husband’s name to the lease, who is currently overseas on deployment. When refusing, she too, was threatened with eviction. With threat, and under duress, many of the residents have signed the questionable leases.

According to another article, written by ‘Lincoln News Now,’ which will be linked below, one individual with cancer faces the possibility of losing her Emotional support dog. Although the dog has been signed for by her doctor, Jones Estates will only recognize a letter that is signed by a psychologist, potentially violating the ADA. If the previous act isn’t a violation, the fact that the company asked for medical documentation, without a doubt, is.

The company, as of this time, has remained silent. As a platform, we attempted to join the Facebook group, intended for residents. While we got no verbal response, we were denied and banned from the group by its admin, who currently manages the park. While there is speculation behind this, allegedly the employees having signed NDA’s, preventing them from speaking, it still leads us to question why we would be denied speaking to the park’s other tenants.

While there is much more to this story, much of it currently unfolding, it is clear this company is possibly after one thing: their homes. From everything we have seen thus far, there are violations within sections 441, 700 and senate bill 753 of Missouri’s revised statutes. As of this time, it is unknown what the final outcome will be. We will continue to update this story as it unfolds.

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