Legal Question-Land and Property

• bigkahuna

  So, my Mother-in-law lives in one of those manufactured modular homes. She owns the home itself but has to pay a lot rent to the mobile home park for her spot.
  
  The entire park is built on what used to be a swamp land (It's only been around for maybe 10 years). The ground itself is sinking. Her foundation is crumbling, the driveway is becoming more and more unleveled, and drywall is cracking because of the foundation. Her house is literally splitting.
  
  She has asked the park manager about this but is turned away, and home owners insurance won't cover it either.
  
  How are cases like this dealt because she only rents the land?
  
  I'm researching laws on things like this and wanted to know if legally there is anything she can do to help her out.
  She purchased the home on site, so it's not like she moved it there.
  
  Thanks in advance for any information you may have.
• Steel Valley Football

  Is it considered real estate i.e. real property or is it personal property like most trailors? I'm assuming that's what you mean since it's in a rented park lot and not a modular that comes in two pieces. The test is whether it has a HUD tag or not.
• CenterBHSFan

  

  I think it's considered real estate if it has a foundation. If it doesn't, then it's personal property? I could be wrong, but it seems that I've heard that before. hmm...
• bigkahuna

  I think it's real estate. It's set up like any other trailer park. She owns the home itself and the shed that is on the space with it. However, the land that it sits on is rented from the park owners. The land itself is sinking, which in turn is pulling the back part of the house down. It did come in 2 pieces, so it's splitting right down the middle because of one end sinking and one not.
  
  I honestly don't know what it matters, but there is NO HUD tag.
• password

  

  The park owner would be liable for fixing the ground and trailer by law.They have to keep the land in a livable condition and to be allowed to charge rent.You could contact your local Health Department or a local Attorney for more information.The owners will not go to court over this because of the possible cost involved for lawyer fees for every Tenant that files a complaint.
• bigkahuna

  password;710077 wrote:The park owner would be liable for fixing the ground and trailer by law.They have to keep the land in a livable condition and to be allowed to charge rent.You could contact your local Health Department or a local Attorney for more information.The owners will not go to court over this because of the possible cost involved for lawyer fees for every Tenant that files a complaint.

  
  That's kind of what I was thinking. I don't know if the park owners dismissed her hoping it'd be the end of it or what, but they basically told her tough shit. It's in Michigan, but I'd assume laws like this are fairly universal.
• thedynasty1998

  

  I would imagine it's just not her lot, so this likely isn't an isolated issue. Is there some type of home owners organization?
  
  I think it's safe to say that an attorney needs to be contacted.
• password

  

  Here is a link for the state of Michigan.You will have to do some reading in the manufactured housing section towards the bottom or just call them and they may be able to help for free.
  
  
  http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-10575_17394_17412---,00.html
• bigkahuna

  Thanks password!