Querin Law

Phil Querin Q&A: Temporary Occupant and Fair Housing Accommodation

 

Question: A tenant has asked for her daughter to be on a temporary occupant agreement. The tenant has recently been in the hospital and has returned home. She has not said she needs a caregiver at this point in time. The daughter is 40 years old and has three large dogs. She has applied to be a temporary occupant and has said that she will bring her dogs and if the park says 'no' she will get her attorney. Does the temporary occupant have rights? The park has a small dog policy - her dogs are clearly in violation. At this point there has been no mention of disability or request for reasonable accommodation. What are the landlord's rights? We suspect that the tenant will eventually say she needs at caregiver and hence the need for her daughter. At that point, once she has said "disability" or "caregiver" what are the landlord's rights? Can he say no to the daughter in both circumstances or only in first before the word "disability" or "caregiver" is mentioned?

 

 

 

 

Phil Querin Q&A: Is Domestic Violence a Defense to Non-Payment of Rent?

 

Question: I have a resident that I issued a 72 Hour Non-Payment of Rent notice to last month. When I served it she told me that she is a victim of domestic violence and would provide me a copy of the restraining order, she also told me that she would have her attorney contact me. Neither occurred. She paid her rent by the final date on the notice. She hasn't paid rent yet this month. I still have no copies of a restraining order, nor has her husband informed me that he has moved out. She is the only one to tell me about domestic violence. I just served her with another 72 hour notice. She is upset and yelled that I can't evict her because she is still dealing with issues as a victim of domestic violence. She also told me that she now has two attorneys and that she will have them both call me. I informed her to read the notice carefully as rent will need to be paid by the 13th or I would file in court on the 14th.

 

My question is this: Is domestic violence a recognized defense to non-payment of rent?

 

Phil Querin Q&A: 72 Hour Notice and Partial Payment

 

Question: A resident stops by the manager's office on the 5th of the month and offers to pay $150 of the $350 of rent that is due, and promising to pay the remaining $200 by the 15thof the month. The tenant claims that the landlord mustaccept the partial payment. What are the landlord's options? Can the landlord refuse the partial payment? Where do you draw the line - say a 72 hour notice has been issued - does that change the partial payment scenario?

 

Phil Querin Q&A: Repairs Upon Resale

Question:  Can management require of a resident selling their home in the community that the space be removed of all attachments and outbuildings that were added upon initial occupancy? E.g. the removal of all decking, sun rooms etc.?  What kind of notice does the landlord give while the home is up for sale with potential buyers are considering the home with these amenities?  Can the landlord restrict colors for the home and even restrict the size and type of fencing?  How does this all fit into the new law on disrepair and deterioration passed by the legislature in 2017 (SB277)?

Phil Querin Q&A: Violations Continue Under 30-Day Notice

 

Question: A landlord served a resident a 30 day notice (MHCO Form 43) for driving their motorcycle through the park and creating a lot of noise that disturbed the other residents. The landlord served the resident (who was driving the motorcycle) with a 30 notice for violation of the rules. Now that same resident is driving even louder through the park to spite the landlord. What can the landlord do? Can he evict sooner, since the same violation has occurred before the 30 notice expired? How do you handle a violation within this 30 day period? I understand that after 30 days you can give a 20 day notice (MHCO Form 44) that is non curable if substantially the same violation occurs again within 6 months.

 

 

 

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