ABOUT US
Standing Together to Protect What Matters Most
The Highlands Lot Rent Defense Fund was created by residents and community supporters who believe older homeowners should not have to face a complicated and costly legal dispute alone.
Our purpose is simple: to help protect the homes, financial security, and peace of mind of residents at The Highlands at Scotland Yards in Dade City, Florida.
An independent, resident-led legal defense effort.
Who We Are
A Community United
The Highlands Lot Rent Defense Fund is an independent resident-support initiative established to help homeowners at The Highlands at Scotland Yards respond to disputed lot-rent increases, assessments, and related financial demands.
Many residents purchased their homes and planned their retirement years based on written agreements, community prospectuses, and expectations of reasonable and predictable housing costs.
Although residents own their homes, they rent the land beneath them. This creates a uniquely vulnerable situation when substantial rent increases or unexpected charges arise. Moving a manufactured home can be extremely costly, difficult, or impractical, leaving homeowners with limited options.
The Fund gives residents a way to work together, obtain qualified legal representation, and pursue a fair and transparent resolution.
Our Mission
The mission of the Highlands Lot Rent Defense Fund is to unite and support homeowners at The Highlands at Scotland Yards as they seek a fair, transparent, and lawful resolution to disputed lot-rent increases, assessments, and related charges.
Through responsible fundraising, professional legal representation, community education, and financial transparency, we are working to protect residents’ homes, financial security, and peace of mind.
We also hope to help friends, family members, and homeowners in other 55+ land-lease communities better understand the challenges manufactured-home owners may face.
Why This Fund Was Created
The Cost of Protecting Homeowners’ Rights
Legal disputes involving lot rents, assessments, prospectuses, and manufactured-home agreements can be difficult and expensive to navigate.
Many Highlands residents are retired or live on fixed incomes. Even when homeowners believe their written agreements protect them, reviewing documents, responding to legal actions, obtaining professional guidance, and pursuing relief can require significant financial resources.
The Fund was created to help cover authorized legal and case-related expenses so residents can approach the process together instead of being financially overwhelmed as individuals.
Our Homes
Residents have invested their savings, time, and care into homes they own and planned to enjoy throughout retirement.
Financial Security
Unexpected increases and disputed charges can create serious hardship for homeowners living on fixed or limited incomes.
Written Agreements
Residents are seeking professional review and enforcement of the documents and financial terms that shaped their decisions to purchase homes in the community.
Our Community
The Highlands is more than a collection of houses. It is a community built on friendship, connection, support, and neighbors looking out for one another.
How the Fund Is Organized
Responsible Resident-Led Oversight
The Highlands Lot Rent Defense Fund is being established as a temporary, independent legal-defense association with guidance from legal, tax, and financial professionals.
The Fund exists for the limited purpose of raising and managing money for authorized legal and case-related expenses connected to the residents’ efforts.
The association will maintain its own financial records and operate according to written governing procedures.
Our Financial Commitments
Separate Fund Account
Donations will be maintained separately from the personal finances of residents and volunteers.
Documented Approval
Expenses will be reviewed and approved according to the Fund’s written financial procedures.
Direct Payments
Approved legal and professional expenses will be paid directly from the Fund to authorized service providers.
Donor Transparency
Supporters will receive meaningful updates regarding fundraising progress, expenses, and important developments whenever appropriate.
Certain information may remain confidential to protect residents, personal privacy, attorney-client communications, and legal strategy.
How Donations May Be Used
Contributions may help pay for:
✓Attorney fees and retainers
✓Court filing fees and litigation expenses
✓Document review and records acquisition
✓Mediation or other dispute-resolution costs
✓Accounting and professional services
✓Banking, payment-processing, and tax-preparation expenses
✓Website, printing, mailing, and resident communications
✓Other approved expenses directly related to the legal effort
Donations will not be used for personal living expenses, political campaigns, private loans, unrelated community activities, or compensation for volunteer committee members.
Our Commitment to Supporters
Accountability Matters
We understand that every contribution represents an act of trust.
The Fund is committed to using donations responsibly, maintaining clear financial records, and sharing appropriate updates with residents and supporters.
Our goal is to create a legal-defense effort that is organized, transparent, professionally guided, and focused entirely on protecting the interests of participating homeowners.
A Broader Purpose
Helping Other Homeowners Understand They Are Not Alone
Although this Fund was created in response to the situation at The Highlands at Scotland Yards, similar concerns can arise in manufactured-home and 55+ land-lease communities throughout Florida.
Other homeowners may also be facing sudden rent increases, disputed assessments, unclear fees, conflicts involving prospectuses or leases, or pressure related to disputed payments.
By sharing our experience, we hope to help other residents recognize the importance of reviewing their documents, communicating with their neighbors, keeping careful records, and seeking qualified legal advice when necessary.
Who We Welcome
We welcome respectful communication from:
Highlands residents
Family members and friends
Homeowners in similar communities
Manufactured-home advocates
Attorneys and legal professionals
Journalists and community organizations
Members of the public who want to support the residents
