MHCO Legal Counsel

Phil Querin Q&A: Background Checks and the Fed's 7 Year Rule

Question.  I spoke with someone recently who informed me that Federal Law (i.e. the Fair Credit Reporting Act) prohibits criminal background checks beyond seven years.  Yet I am concerned that with some crimes, e.g. child molestation, it would be important to know if there were any convictions, not just those within the last seven years.  It also appears that HUD seems to be saying the same thing.  I am getting mixed information on this issue. Can you help clarify?

Phil Querin Q&A: Failure To Put Agreement In Writing - Failure to Qualify Resident

 

 

Q: A resident was having difficulty in selling their home in a manufactured home community. The resident was eventually transferred to California, and the landlord decided to be cooperative and allow the resident's niece to move in to the home until it was sold. The landlord had the niece filled out a complete application and did a background check. The landlord accepted the application, but did not send an acceptance or denial letter to the resident. The landlord also did not have the niece sign a rental agreement. Now 14 months later the home has still not been sold and the former resident's niece is still living in the home. The niece has been late on numerous occasions in paying rent, does not maintain the home and has an illegal dog (over the 20 lb limit). The landlord wants to take action, but the niece claims that he cannot take any action because there is no signed rental agreement. What can the landlord do at this point as far as sending 72 hour notices for late payment, notices for maintenance and notices for the illegal dog? What did the landlord do wrong in the application process?

 

 

 

 

Phil Querin Q&A: Home Damaged During Storm

Question.   Last week’s torrential rain caused significant riverbank erosion in our Park and has threatened a home.  What are the landlord’s rights and responsibilities in this situation?  The home will likely have to be moved.  Who pays and what are the timelines, responsibilities and liabilities? Should we accept rent during this time? What if the tenants walk away - abandonment apply under these circumstances?

Phil Querin Q&A: Conversion to Pass-Through Charges For Garbage Collection


Question. My first question deals with ORS 90.533 which provides:

90.533 Conversion of billing method for garbage collection and disposal. (1) A landlord may unilaterally amend a rental agreement to convert the method of billing a tenant for garbage collection and disposal from a method described in ORS 90.532 (1)(b) to a method in which the service provider:

(a) Supplies garbage receptacles;

(b) Collects and disposes of garbage; and

(c)(A) Bills the tenant directly; or

(B) Bills the landlord, who then bills the tenant based upon the number and size of the receptacles used by the tenant.

(2) A landlord shall give a tenant not less than 180 days' written notice before converting a billing method under subsection (1) of this section.

(3) If the cost of garbage service was included in the rent before the conversion of a billing method under subsection (1) of this section, the landlord shall reduce the tenant's rent upon the first billing of the tenant under the new billing method. The rent reduction may not be less than an amount reasonably comparable to the amount of rent previously allocated for garbage collection and disposal costs averaged over at least the preceding year. Before the conversion occurs, the landlord shall provide the tenant with written documentation from the service provider showing the landlord's cost for the garbage collection and disposal service provided to the facility during at least the preceding year.

(4) A landlord may not convert a billing method under subsection (1) of this section less than one year after giving notice of a rent increase, unless the rent increase is an automatic increase provided for in a fixed term rental agreement entered into one year or more before the conversion.

I do not understand Subsection (4). Does it mean we cannot give a 90-day rent increase after the 180-day notice of pass-through has taken affect? Or can I still give my 90-day notice of rent increase to bring the rent back up once the trash has been separated from the base rent?

Phil Querin Q&A: Utility or Service Charge Payments

Question. To assess a tenant for a utility or service charge for any billing period using the billing method described in ORS 90.532 (1)(b)(C)(ii) or (c) of this section, I understand that the landlord is to give the tenant a written notice stating the amount of the utility or service charge they are to pay and the due date for making the payment. According to the statute, the due date may not be less than 14 days from the date of service of the notice. The amount of the charge is determined according to ORS 90.534 or 90.536. If the rental agreement allows delivery of notice of a utility or service charge by electronic means, for purposes of this subsection, written notice includes a communication that is transmitted in a manner that is electronic, as defined in ORS 84.004.

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