Lets help Brian and Claude with housing legal fees

Support Brian and Claude’s Housing Legal Battle

We are raising awareness and support for Brian Corkum and Claude Goergen, homeowners in Wildwood Manufactured Home Park in Coquitlam, BC, who are fighting an ongoing legal battle with the park owner, Ron Chambers. Mr. Chambers has repeatedly blocked the sale of their home, leading them into a financially crippling situation.

In November 2023, Brian and Claude decided to list one of their homes for sale and move in together, to ease the financial strain caused by an employment strike at the time. The couple invested all their savings and maxed their available credit to renovate the property. They listed the property for $298,000 to reflect their investment into the improvement of the home.

Since November 2023, the couple has received four offers for purchase, all of which have been blocked by the park owner’s refusal to sign Form 1097, a form that most major banks and credit unions require to release bank financing for manufactured homes in British Columbia. This form has no oversight by the Residential Tenancy Branch.

The park owner also made a purchase offer, $92,000 below the asking price and $22,000 below the assessed value. Brian and Claude rejected his offer, refusing to accept less than a fair price or give in to the monopolistic pressures he has created. The park owner has since retracted his offer.

The couple currently have an accepted offer of $265,500, which has been blocked by the park owner due to his refusal to allow the buyer’s emotional support animal into the park and to sign Form 1097 required for financing. This buyer has filed a Human Rights complaint and their lawyer has suggested that both actions may be cause for discrimination.

Since 2019, Mr. Chambers has purchased 65 of the 68 homes listed for sale. He profits by renting out these homes at market rent prices, a practice prohibited by all other homeowners per the tenancy agreement.

Unable to sell their one of their homes due to park owner interference, Brian and Claude have been paying two pad rents and mortgages, amounting to an additional $1800 plus insurance and utilities per month since November 2023. Additionally, they have spent roughly $10,000 in legal fees so far to fight this battle.

Brian and Claude’s financial future, like that of many others in the park, hangs in the balance. The couple has exhausted their savings, maxed out their credit, and taken on significant debt just to maintain their homes and stay financially afloat.

This case is about much more than just one couple’s financial struggle—it’s about securing fair treatment and financial stability for manufactured home park owners. Every dollar you contribute helps them in their legal fight, which could lead to precedent that could benefit all manufactured homeowners in British Columbia.

Read about Brian and Claude’s story in CityNews Vancouver: https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/10/04/coquitlam-manufactured-home-loophole-sales-act/

View Form 1097: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/legalforms/download/1097.pdf