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View Full Version : How do I file a complainst against my landlord?


Michelle333
Jan 3, 2011, 06:28 AM
I live in a trailor park, I own my trailor and pay rent on the lot. The landlord has raised the lot rent several times without giving a 60 day notice. I know I have rights. I want this to stop. How and where do I file a complaint against them?

smoothy
Jan 3, 2011, 06:57 AM
So? Where do you live... you may have more or less rights than you think you have depending on exactly where you live.

Keep in mind... the Landlord has rights as well. And the right to raise rents to cover a profit and pay ever increasing taxes, maintenance fees or included utilities. Being a Landlord isn't a charity or a non-profit organization.

They own the property after all... you are only paying rent to use it. You always have the option to move to another trailer park if you don't like how that one operates of that they charge too much.

But any of that is just guessing until you tell us what state you live in and what the terms of any lease you have are. State laws can vary substantially. You both have rights and responsibilities codified in the states landlord/Tennant laws that have to be followed.

J_9
Jan 3, 2011, 07:09 AM
What does your lease say about raising the rent?

excon
Jan 3, 2011, 07:44 AM
How and where do I file a complaint against them?Hello M:

There aren't any government agencies that regulate trailer parks. The only branch of government that will help you are the courts... So, if you want relief there, you need to sue your landlord, assuming he DID violate your lease...

But, of course, if you DID that, you're going to have to move your trailer to another park. I don't know if that's worth the few bucks you might win in small claims court. If it is, that's where you file your "complaint".

excon

Michelle333
Jan 3, 2011, 01:22 PM
I live in Georgia. According to the lease that the landlord and I signed, they are required to give a 60 day notice for any increase in the lot rent. I also looked up tennant/landlord law for Georgia and it states a 60 day noticed is required by law.

Michelle333
Jan 3, 2011, 01:24 PM
A 60 day notice is required. I want to report him to someone. I have allowed it 3 times - no fair.

smoothy
Jan 3, 2011, 01:50 PM
Is it a lease or month to month at this moment... just because it was once in a written lease is no guarantee it still applies. Because it is odd the landlord would have to give you 60 days notice for a rent increase when you only have to give them a 30 day notice you are pulling your trailer to a different trailer park.

Assuming you are actually month to month at this time... its an important distinction to make.

If you are month to month you do realise they might just turn around and give you a 30 day notice to vacate.

adthern
Jan 3, 2011, 10:25 PM
Agree with above comments, go to any written lease in effect. Then check into the law of your jurisdiction as it applies to trailer parks. Potentially contract law, real estate law and consumer protection law could apply, but will depend on the specific laws of your jurisdiction (and what you have contracted to).

ScottGem
Jan 4, 2011, 05:11 AM
First, please don't use the Comments feature for followups. Use the Answer options instead.

Let's assume that the lease is in force and requires a 60 day notice. First you say you have allowed this, by doing so you may have negated the clause. But even if its is still in force and backed by law (Trailer parks may not be covered under normal landlord tenant law) then what you do is when the landlord tries to raise the rent is send the landlord a letter. In that letter you cite your lease and the law you found telling him that he cannot raise the rent without a 60 day notice. Therefore you will continue to pay the current rent until that 60 day period has expired. It will then be up to him to try to evict you which would get you a court hearing where you can explain to the judge why you didn't pay the rent increase.

Michelle333
Jan 5, 2011, 05:09 AM
Thank you for all of your great answers. This has been helpful. I know what I am going to do now. GOD BLESS you all.

ScottGem
Jan 5, 2011, 05:10 AM
Good luck and keep us posted.