25 Del. C. ch. 70 § 7010
Rent — Prohibited lump sum payments: acceptance of rent
Operative Text
(a) Rental payments must be paid by the tenant to the community owner or landlord in equal dollar amounts, or as close thereto as possible, and must be extended equally, pro rata, over a calendar year. Any provision in a rental agreement, or otherwise, that requires rental payments or rental increases to be paid in 1 lump sum is void. However, a tenant may request and the community owner or landlord may agree that rental payment be made in a 1-time lump sum, semi-annual, or quarterly payment made by the tenant; nor does this subsection prevent a community owner or landlord from offering discounts as incentives to homeowners to pay annually, semi-annually, or quarterly, provided it is made clear that the homeowners are under no obligation to pay in any way except monthly. (b) If a community owner or landlord accepts a cash payment for rent, the community owner or landlord shall, within 3 days, give the tenant a receipt for that payment. The community owner or landlord must maintain a record of all cash receipts for rent for 3 years.
Under 25 Del. C. ch. 70 § 7010, rent in a manufactured home community must be structured in equal monthly installments spread across the calendar year. Any lease clause that mandates a lump-sum payment is automatically void under this provision, though tenants may voluntarily choose to pay in a single payment, semi-annually, or quarterly if both parties agree. Community owners and landlords may offer discounts to encourage less-frequent payment schedules, but only if tenants are clearly informed that monthly payment remains an option. When rent is paid in cash, the landlord must provide a written receipt within three days and keep records of all cash payments for at least three years.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to 25 Del. C. ch. 70 § 7010 generally structure their lease agreements so that rent is billed in equal monthly amounts across the calendar year, avoiding any clause that compels a lump-sum payment. Discounts for annual, semi-annual, or quarterly payment may be offered as voluntary incentives, but compliant operators make clear in writing that tenants are never obligated to pay on any schedule other than monthly. For cash transactions, a compliant operator issues a receipt to the tenant within three days of receiving payment and retains records of all such cash receipts for a minimum of three years.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 7010 of Title 25 of the Delaware Code gives tenants in manufactured home communities the right to pay rent in equal monthly installments, and any lease term that forces a one-time lump-sum payment is void by law. Tenants retain the option to voluntarily arrange quarterly, semi-annual, or single-payment schedules if they prefer, but landlords cannot require it. If a tenant pays rent in cash and does not receive a receipt within three days, that may constitute a violation of § 7010; tenants who believe their rights under this provision have been violated may consider contacting a tenant-rights organization or a local legal aid office to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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