§ 656-14. Legislative intent.

A. 

This Legislature hereby finds and determines that developers in different parts of the country are selling homes in "retirement communities," in which the purchaser buys and owns the home while the developer retains ownership of the land on which the home is installed (as well as the roads, sidewalks and common areas in the communities). The homeowners in those communities lease the property on which their home is installed.

B. 

This Legislature further finds and recognizes the unique nature of this kind of development, where the purchaser owns a home but is required to lease the land on which the home is situated.

C. 

This Legislature also finds and determines that this type of development is not governed or regulated under New York Real Property Law and, therefore, the residents of those retirement communities are not afforded the kinds of protection that are extended to mobile home owners or multiple dwelling tenants.

D. 

This Legislature hereby finds and determines that the current provisions extending the right of first refusal to mobile home owners or tenants when an owner of a mobile home park offers such park for sale have proven successful in protecting the interests of mobile home owners or tenants.

E. 

Therefore, the purpose of this article is to extend the right of first refusal to occupants of homes in planned retirement communities as is provided to mobile home owners and multiple dwelling tenants.