The Short Answer

In Pennsylvania, when co-owned land is sold through a partition case, relatives living on the property generally do not get an automatic right to stay just because they are family. Whether they must move (and how quickly) depends on whether they have a valid legal right to occupy the land (like a lease, life estate, or ownership interest) and whether the mobile home is treated as separate property from the land.

What Pennsylvania Law Says

Partition is a remedy that allows co-owners to end shared ownership—often by selling the property and dividing the proceeds. When the land is sold, the buyer typically expects to receive possession, and occupants who do not have enforceable rights to remain may be required to leave. A key issue in “mobile home on family land” situations is that the land and the mobile home may be treated as separate property interests, which can affect what is being sold and what must be removed.

The Statute

The primary law governing the mobile-home/land distinction is 53 Pa.C.S. § 8821.

This statute establishes that, for Pennsylvania tax assessment purposes, mobile homes/manufactured homes are assessed separately from the land, and the land is assessed separately without including the mobile home’s value—often reinforcing that the home may be treated as a distinct asset from the real estate being sold.

Why You Should Speak with an Attorney

While the general rule sounds straightforward, applying it to a real family situation is rarely simple. Legal outcomes often depend on:

• Strict Deadlines: Partition sales and post-sale possession disputes can move quickly once a sale is approved/closed, and waiting too long can limit options for negotiating move-out timing or protecting property left on-site.
• Burden of Proof: If relatives claim they have a right to stay (for example, an oral agreement, a long-term arrangement, or contributions to the property), proving that right—and proving its legal effect against a purchaser—can be difficult without documentation.
• Exceptions: The biggest “exception” issues are whether the occupants are also co-owners/heirs, whether there is a written lease or life estate, and whether the mobile home is legally treated as personal property versus part of the real estate. Those details can change leverage, valuation, and what must be removed before or after closing.

Trying to handle this alone can lead to avoidable conflict, loss of leverage in settlement talks, or court orders that force a faster move-out than expected.

For more background, you may find these helpful: How a Pennsylvania partition action works (especially for inherited property) and whether someone can be ordered to move out during a PA partition dispute.

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Disclaimer: This article provides general information under Pennsylvania law and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change frequently. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a licensed attorney.