(A) An owner shall not charge, demand, accept or retain rent for a mobile home space exceeding the lawful rent in effect on December 31, 1991, except as hereinafter provided. Any rent increases, other than one authorized by state law, charged between the dates of January 1, 1992, and the effective date of the initiative codified in this subchapter shall be rolled back to rent existing on December 31, 1991. No notice of a rent increase may be given by a park owner to the residents until the rent increase has been approved pursuant to this subchapter and no rent increase approved pursuant to this subchapter shall be charged, demanded, accepted or retained until lawful notice of that increase has been given to the affected residents by the park owner.
(B) No owner shall reduce the housing services provided for the rent paid on the effective date of the initiative codified in this subchapter or under any previous ordinance. Any reduction in such housing services shall be deemed a rent increase in violation of this subchapter.
(C) A resident may refuse to pay rent in excess of a maximum rent permitted by this subchapter. The fact that such unpaid rent is in excess of the maximum rent permitted by this subchapter shall be a defense in any action brought to recover possession of a mobile home space and for nonpayment of rent to collect the illegal rent.
('81 Code, § 8.48.040) Penalty, see Ch. 13