Question about landlord responsibility in relation to lot rent?

Question

My parents own a mobil home but rent the land it is on. For the past month they have had very little water pressure, so little they are unable to shower or do laundry. They talked to the woman that owns the land and she said there was nothing they could do until the water shows up above ground to show where a possible break may be. Should they be required to pay the lot rent for the time that they are without water?

Answer 1

They should report the matter to the Health Dept. Without a proper water supply to the property, they will require the landlord to bring the property up to code in order to rent it.

Your parents may also have a court claim for the rent that they have paid while the property wasn't up to code...

Answer 2

They need to find the laws for residential rentals for their state that apply to trailer rentals ... they can probably send her a "10 day to fix" notice,and then call a licensed plumber themselves, pay for it themselves (if it is not more than an amount based on the rent), and deduct it from the rent by sending her a reciept.

They need to report the lack of water pressure to the water company ... and to the zoning and health departments. IT IS ILLEGAL TO MAKE YOUR TENANTS LIVE WITHOUT ADEQUATE WATER PRESSURE while you wait for signs of a leak.  

Answer 3

As a landlady in Calif  I would have to get a plumber or whom ever and fix it. If its un liveable they could stay in a motel and take it off the rent. Which every landlord hates . But what is fair is fair. Its hard to say how much water  in $$ could be taken off per month. It may cost the landlady 40.00 a month for water for you. The landlady probably doesn't have the money to fix it.

Try getting some FREE estimates on your own and then go from there. It is probbly rusted old lines. Probably shouldn't be drinking it. Could be contaminated also.  Close to septic tanks..?

Answer 4

YES - they still have to pay the rent or they will get evicted!!! You cannot withhold rent for things needing to be fixed.

Since it is a problem with the entire park - Type a letter stating the issues and have everyone sign it. That way it is documented that it is a larger issue. Then contact your local health and safety office. It is illegal for her not to provide adequate water and these measures should force her to fix it. I'm sure she would rather get it fixed then have an empty park.