Vernon BC Mobile Home Park Faces Power Shutoff April 10: Your Rights as a Manufactured Home Tenant

What This Means for You

If you live in a manufactured home park in British Columbia — or anywhere in Canada — the Crown Villa case is a warning sign. When a landlord refuses to maintain critical infrastructure for five years, it's the tenants who suffer the most. Based on our analysis of BC tenancy law, Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) enforcement actions, and the specifics of this case, here's exactly what you need to know to protect yourself.

This case matters beyond Vernon. Across BC, roughly 25,000 households live in manufactured home parks, many of which have aging infrastructure and absentee or under-resourced landlords. Understanding your legal protections before a crisis hits is the single most important thing you can do as a manufactured home tenant.

If You're a Crown Villa Resident Facing the April 10 Shutoff

You have six days. Technical Safety BC has set April 10, 2026, as the deadline. If the electrical system isn't repaired or replaced by then, power will be cut to the entire park. Here's your immediate action plan:

Immediate steps (this weekend):

Document everything. Photograph your home, the electrical connections, and any correspondence with the landlord. These records are essential if you file a claim with the RTB later.
Contact the Residential Tenancy Branch directly. Call 1-800-665-8779 or visit gov.bc.ca/landlordtenant. You can file a dispute resolution application to seek compensation for any losses caused by the landlord's negligence — including moving costs, temporary accommodation, lost property value, and spoiled food.
Prepare for life without power. If the shutoff happens:
- Water: The park's well runs on electric pumps. Stock up on bottled water — plan for at least 4 litres per person per day for drinking and cooking. Some residents are already purchasing supplies.
- Medical equipment: If you or a family member relies on powered medical devices (CPAP machines, oxygen concentrators, electric wheelchairs), contact your healthcare provider now to arrange alternatives. Interior Health may be able to assist with temporary accommodations.
- Food storage: Without refrigeration, plan to consume perishables before April 10 or move them to a friend or family member's home.
- Heating and cooling: April temperatures in the Vernon area average 3°C to 14°C. Without electric heating, overnight temperatures could be uncomfortable. Have warm blankets and sleeping bags ready.
- Charging devices: Purchase a portable power station or solar charging setup. Units capable of charging phones and running small devices start at $150 to $300 at Canadian retailers like Canadian Tire or Home Depot.
Know your legal rights. Under BC's Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act, the landlord is required by law to maintain the park in a state of repair that meets health and safety standards. The power shutoff is a direct result of the landlord's failure — not yours. You are entitled to seek compensation.
Contact your MLA. The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs has stated that landlords must maintain parks in reasonable repair. Your local MLA can escalate your case and connect you with provincial resources. The riding of Vernon-Lumby is represented in the BC Legislature — contact their constituency office.

Financial calculation for affected residents:

Based on our analysis, the potential costs of displacement for a Crown Villa resident include:

Moving a mobile home: $5,000 to $15,000 depending on distance and home size (and requires a new pad to move to)
Temporary accommodation: $1,200 to $2,000/month for a rental in the Vernon area
Lost property value: A mobile home without utility connections has significantly reduced resale value — potentially 40% to 60% less than one with full services
Replacement of spoiled food and medications: $200 to $500

Total potential displacement cost per household: $7,000 to $18,000+

All of these costs may be recoverable from the landlord through an RTB dispute resolution application.

If You Live in Any Manufactured Home Park in BC

The Crown Villa case reveals systemic vulnerabilities in BC's manufactured home park system. Here's how to protect yourself before you face a similar situation:

Conduct a safety audit of your park:

Check the age of your park's electrical system. If the park was built before 1990 and hasn't had major electrical upgrades, the wiring may not meet current safety codes. You can request that Technical Safety BC inspect the system by filing a concern at technicalsafetybc.ca.
Review your tenancy agreement. Under the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act, your landlord must provide a written tenancy agreement. If you don't have one, request one in writing. The agreement should outline the landlord's maintenance obligations.
Know your rent increase rights. Landlords can only increase rent once every 12 months, with at least 3 full months' notice, and the increase cannot exceed the yearly limit set by the province. For 2026, the maximum allowable rent increase in BC is tied to inflation. If your landlord is raising rent beyond this limit, file a dispute.
Understand your security deposit rights. Under BC law, landlords of manufactured home parks cannot require or accept a security deposit for the site tenancy. If your landlord has collected one, you may be entitled to its return.
Join or form a tenant association. The Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act protects your right to organize. Tenant associations give you collective bargaining power and shared legal resources. The Manufactured Home Park Owners' Alliance of BC (MHPOA) and the Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre (TRAC) can provide guidance.

Key legal protections you should know:

Protection	What It Means	Reference
Maintenance obligation	Landlord must keep park safe and compliant with health/safety laws	MHPTA s. 32
No security deposits	Landlord cannot collect deposits for pad rental	MHPTA s. 19
Rent increase limits	Maximum once per year, 3 months' notice, capped amount	MHPTA s. 33-34
Right to organize	Tenants can form associations without retaliation	MHPTA s. 52
Compensation for negligence	Tenants can claim costs caused by landlord's failure to maintain	RTB dispute resolution

If You're a Manufactured Home Owner Anywhere in Canada

While the Crown Villa case is in BC, manufactured home tenants face similar vulnerabilities across the country. Here's what to check regardless of your province:

Ontario: The Residential Tenancies Act covers mobile home parks. Contact the Landlord and Tenant Board at tribunalsontario.ca.
Alberta: The Mobile Home Sites Tenancies Act provides specific protections. Contact the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS).
Saskatchewan: The Residential Tenancies Act applies. Contact the Office of Residential Tenancies.
Manitoba: The Residential Tenancies Act applies. Contact the Residential Tenancies Branch.

Universal steps regardless of province:

Request a copy of the most recent electrical inspection for your park
Ensure your home insurance covers displacement due to landlord negligence
Keep 30 days of essential supplies on hand in case of sudden utility interruption
Document all communications with your landlord in writing

The News: What Happened

About 30 residents of the Crown Villa Mobile Home Park near Vernon, BC, face losing power on April 10 after five years of warnings about unsafe electrical conditions went unaddressed, according to CBC News. Technical Safety BC, the provincial body overseeing high-risk safety systems, has set the deadline for the landlord to complete repairs or face a full power shutoff.

According to CBC News, the park's operator, Carol Goldstone, who has run the 11-unit park since 1988, says she cannot afford the approximately $200,000 in electrical repairs required. The Residential Tenancy Branch fined Goldstone $55,000 — approximately $5,000 per trailer — for what it described as "continuous and deliberate non-compliance" over a four-year period from April 2021 to December 2025, as reported by Castanet.

In its decision, the RTB stated that the landlord had "deliberately placed her tenants at significant risk of harm and possibly death in the event of a fire or electrocution under the guise that she is providing affordable housing," according to Castanet's reporting.

The Vernon Morning Star reported that Technical Safety BC first inspected the park's electrical infrastructure in 2021 and found it non-compliant, with hazards posing risk of electrical shock or fire. Despite multiple warnings over the following years, the required upgrades were never completed. The fines have now been referred to a collection agency.

According to CBC News, most residents own their mobile homes and plan to stay, citing financial constraints associated with moving. One resident household is preparing by purchasing bottled water and solar-charging batteries, as the electrical water pumps for the park's well will also stop working when power is cut.

Analysis: Why This Matters

This case exposes a critical gap in Canada's affordable housing protections. Based on our analysis, the Crown Villa situation is not an isolated incident — it's a structural problem with how manufactured home parks operate across the country.

The Affordable Housing Trap

Manufactured home parks occupy a unique position in Canada's housing ecosystem. Residents typically own their homes but rent the land underneath. This creates a power imbalance: moving a mobile home costs $5,000 to $15,000, and that's only if another park has an available pad. In many parts of BC, manufactured home parks are full, leaving tenants with no realistic alternative.

This means a landlord who neglects maintenance holds enormous leverage. The cost of leaving often exceeds the cost of enduring deteriorating conditions — at least until safety becomes impossible to ignore.

Enforcement Challenges

The RTB's $55,000 fine sounds significant, but consider the economics: the required electrical repairs cost approximately $200,000. A rational (if unethical) landlord might calculate that paying fines is cheaper than making repairs — especially if the fines are difficult to collect. The fact that Crown Villa's fines have been sent to a collection agency suggests enforcement is struggling to compel compliance.

This points to a broader gap: provincial tenancy enforcement bodies may lack the tools to force landlords to make capital repairs, particularly when the landlord claims insolvency. Some housing advocates have called for provinces to develop emergency repair funds that would fix critical infrastructure and then recover costs from the landlord through liens on the property.

Aging Infrastructure Across Canada

Many of Canada's manufactured home parks were built in the 1970s and 1980s, meaning their electrical, water, and sewage systems are 40 to 50 years old. As these systems reach end of life, we expect to see more cases like Crown Villa. Tenants and municipalities should proactively assess park infrastructure rather than waiting for a crisis.

Your Action Plan

Immediate (This Week):

If you live in Crown Villa, file an RTB dispute resolution application for compensation (call 1-800-665-8779)
Stock emergency water, food, and backup power supplies if you're in an affected park
Contact your MLA if you're a Crown Villa resident to escalate the situation
If you live in any manufactured home park, review your tenancy agreement

Short-term (This Month):

Request an electrical inspection of your park's infrastructure from Technical Safety BC
Verify your home insurance covers displacement due to landlord negligence
Connect with TRAC (Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre) at 1-800-665-1185 for legal guidance
Join or form a tenant association in your park

Long-term (This Year):

Advocate with your MLA for emergency repair fund legislation for manufactured home parks
Consider long-term housing alternatives if your park's infrastructure is aging
Review all provincial and federal programs for affordable housing assistance

Other Perspectives

Provincial Government View:

The BC Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs stated that landlords are required by law to keep their manufactured home parks in reasonable repair, according to CBC News. The ministry noted that homeowners who experience damage or losses due to landlord negligence can apply to the RTB for compensation.

Technical Safety BC View:

Technical Safety BC has maintained that the electrical hazards at Crown Villa pose a genuine risk of shock and fire, according to the Vernon Morning Star. The organization has given the park operator multiple years of warnings before setting the April 10 deadline, indicating patience was exhausted.

The Landlord's Position:

Carol Goldstone has stated she cannot afford the $200,000 in repairs or the $55,000 in fines, according to CBC News. She has operated the park since 1988 and has expressed concern that the facility may need to close entirely, which would displace all residents.

Tenant Advocates:

Housing advocates have pointed out that cases like Crown Villa illustrate the vulnerability of manufactured home tenants who own their homes but not the land. The Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre (TRAC) has noted that BC's enforcement mechanisms may be insufficient to compel landlords to make critical safety repairs before tenants are harmed.

Affected Residents:

Residents have expressed frustration and anxiety about the impending shutoff. According to CBC News, many are preparing to live without electricity rather than abandon homes they own. Some residents with medical needs depending on electricity have no practical choice but to leave — at significant personal cost.

Note: Including multiple perspectives doesn't imply all views are equally valid, but ensures readers can make informed judgments.

Corrections Policy

We strive for accuracy. If you find an error in this analysis, please email us at [email protected]. We will promptly investigate and correct any factual inaccuracies.

Updates:

No corrections to date (as of April 4, 2026)

Sources

CBC News, "Mobile home park near Vernon, B.C., to lose power, landlord says she can't afford repairs," April 2026
Castanet, "Vernon mobile home operator fined $55K by Residential Tenancy Branch for 'continuous and deliberate non-compliance'," 2026
Vernon Morning Star, "Power to be cut at Vernon trailer park as essential repairs go unfixed," March 4, 2026
iNFOnews/iNhome, "Residents scramble as Vernon trailer park faces power and water shut off," 2026
Castanet, "Vernon's Crown Villa must complete required upgrades by April 10 or power will be cut," 2026
Castanet, "Operator of Vernon mobile home park fears facility may close, displacing tenants," 2026
BC Government, "Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act," accessed April 2026
Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre (TRAC), manufactured home park tenant rights resources