Residents at a mobile home park in Bozeman, Montana, are organizing a rent strike after rent began increasing sharply. They weren’t going to sit around and take it, and are withholding rent in response to the increases.
Zack (@zackmckeever) says that “Montana’s first rent strike in 50 years just happened in Bozeman.” He explains what’s happening at Mountain Meadows Mobile Home Park. Over the past year, their rent has increased by 11%, making it unaffordable for many at the park. Zack sounds baffled as he states, “Lot rent is almost $1,000 a month.”
Zack says that a woman who lives at the mobile home park is on disability. According to him, her “entire social security check” doesn’t even cover the rent anymore due to the increase. Just like her, many people were barely getting by due to the rising cost of living across America. But now it is difficult for some residents to afford. Zack says these aren’t luxury apartments we’re talking about. He says the mobile home park was the “last semi-affordable option in Bozeman and people are being priced out.“
Now, the citizens of this mobile home park are organizing a collective rent strike. Zack explains, “they’re withholding rent.” The renters have come together and are collectively holding over $52,000 per month with their landlord. Zack says he’s watching the entire event unfold and hopes it ends up “in favor of the tenants.”
Recent reports state that the rent increase is due to the “park’s sale to an undisclosed buyer.” The tenants are working with a Montana group called Bozeman Tenants United, keeping the $52K from their landlord until the issue is resolved. On top of the fact that rent rose significantly, the tenants said the condition of their housing actually worsened. Tenants also claimed there had been repeated water shutoffs and maintenance concerns. As one tenant mentioned, “I cannot recall a time in the past 20 years where we had three straight months of water and power working all day, every day.”
Zack’s video clearly baffled viewers, who flooded the comments to have their opinions heard on this distressing matter. One commenter mentioned, “The housing market as a whole in Montana is out of control. I can’t understand how people are affording any of it.” Another commenter said they also live in a mobile home park in Montana, and the same thing is happening. She claims “our lot rent is more than the mortgage on our house with no amenities. There’s absolutely no need for a rent hike. They’re doing it because they know we have nowhere else to go.”
Zack’s video prompted ongoing online discussion, with many commenters debating rising housing costs and rent increases in Montana. One commenter wrote, “What landlord needs 52,000 a month to pay their mortgage, insurance, and property taxes!? That is insane pricing for no reason.”
