Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and ContingenciesWe are involved in various legal and regulatory proceedings (“Proceedings”) arising in the ordinary course of business. The Proceedings include, but are not limited to, legal claims made by employees, vendors and customers, and notices, consent decrees, information requests, additional permit requirements and other similar enforcement actions by governmental agencies relating to our utility infrastructure, including water and wastewater treatment plants and other waste treatment facilities and electrical systems. Additionally, in the ordinary course of business, our operations are subject to audit by various taxing

authorities. Management believes these Proceedings taken together do not represent a material liability. In addition, to the extent any such Proceedings or audits relate to newly acquired Properties, we consider any potential indemnification obligations of sellers in our favor.

The Operating Partnership operates and manages Westwinds, a 720 site mobilehome community, and Nicholson Plaza, an adjacent shopping center, both located in San Jose, California pursuant to ground leases that expire on August 31, 2022 and do not contain extension options. The master lessor of these ground leases, The Nicholson Family Partnership (the “Nicholsons”), has expressed a desire to redevelop Westwinds, and in a written communication, they claimed that we were obligated to deliver the property free and clear of any and all subtenancies upon the expiration of the ground leases on August 31, 2022. In connection with any redevelopment, the City of San Jose’s conversion ordinance requires, among other things, that the landowner provide relocation, rental and purchase assistance to the impacted residents.

We believe the Nicholsons’ demand is unlawful, and on December 30, 2019, the Operating Partnership, together with certain interested parties, filed a complaint in California Superior Court for Santa Clara County, seeking declaratory relief pursuant to which it requested that the Court determine, among other things, that the Operating Partnership has no obligation to deliver the property free and clear of the mobilehome residents upon the expiration of the ground leases. The Operating Partnership and the interested parties filed an amended complaint on January 29, 2020. The Nicholsons filed a demand for arbitration on January 28, 2020, which they subsequently amended, pursuant to which they request (i) a declaration that the Operating Partnership, as the “owner and manager” of Westwinds, is “required by the Ground Leases, and State and local law to deliver the Property free of any encumbrances or third-party claims at the expiration of the lease terms,” (ii) that the Operating Partnership anticipatorily breached the ground leases by publicly repudiating any such obligation and (iii) that the Operating Partnership is required to indemnify the Nicholsons with respect to the claims brought by the interested parties in the Superior Court proceeding.

On February 3, 2020, the Nicholsons filed a motion in California Superior Court to compel arbitration and to stay the Superior Court litigation, which motion was heard on June 25, 2020. On July 29, 2020, the Superior Court issued a final order denying the Nicholsons' motion to compel arbitration. The Nicholsons filed a notice of appeal on August 7, 2020. On February 4, 2022, the California Court of Appeal affirmed the Superior Court’s order denying the Nicholsons' motion to compel arbitration. The arbitration is stayed pursuant to an agreement between MHC and the Nicholsons. We intend to continue to vigorously defend our interests in this matter. As of December 31, 2021, we have not made an accrual, as we are unable to predict the outcome of this matter or reasonably estimate any possible loss.