[GaGirl6118]

Thanks for all the responses and sorry I didn't make it quite clear the first time

My mother owns the trailer and rents a space in a small trailer park. She does pay an annual $25.00 tag registration fee on her trailer (like a car tag). I do this for her at the courthouse each year.

Her landlord sends her an annual invoice (on company letterhead) each year with her "Property Tax" owed and to make payment (cash/check/money order) to the park office. Her payment does include, water, sewer and garbage but I can't find anything in her lease that states she is responsible for paying property tax.

Last week she received a rent increase notice/letter stating the new rates are due to increases in "water, sewer and property taxes".

I think this guy is scamming the people who rent in his park (mostly poor country folk and migrant workers) but I'm not sure how to find out or who to call. BTW - he is a slum lord of the highest quality. I try every time I visit to convince her to move in with us but she's 87 yrs old, tough as nails and just won't budge.

Thanks again
Tina

[ScottGem]

Property taxes are overhead for a landlord just like any other expense. They can't have a tenant pay property taxes directly, but they can certainly raise rents because their expenses have increased.

[Fr_Chuck]

Agreed, property taxes are just a cost, that is included in the monthly rent,
The tenant does not pay the landlords taxes.

Now if they are living there free in return to pay taxes and keep the property up, that may be different.

[ballengerb1]

So are you saying she actually pays the tax directly? This must be written into the lease to be legal.

[Fr_Chuck]

Yes, I guess they can have that as part of the rental agreement or lease, that she is responsible for this or that. But if she is, I would say she is about the only person I have ever know that pays property tax on a rental property

[froggy7]

From the way that the question is stated, it sounds to me like the landlord is just notifying the tenant that the reason that the rent has gone up is because his taxes and utility fees have gone up. In other words, her rent is being increased by X because of his higher taxes, but she's not "paying his taxes" herself.

[ballengerb1]

I read that differently "landlord makes her pay property taxes each year but she just received a rent increase" That sounds like she pays the taxes and is going to get an increase because sewer, water and taxes increased. It is bit vague I think. I am a member of an association board and we have several properties we rent including our restaurant, all of those leases require the tenant to pay the tax. Maybe its just more common on commercial property.

[oneguyinohio]

Look closely at the type of yearly tax that she pays. There is often a yearly "property tax" on house trailers. It is different than the land tax. I can only speak about the situation in Ohio, as I don't know if it is the same for you.

[ScottGem]

So Tina,

As you can see your question was a bit ambiguous. Can you respond back and explain what she is actually paying?