You are 100% correct. She does not own the home, only the land that it sits on.

However, she ALSO owns the land that has the well on it. It was a community well that supplied 3 homes.

It now only supplies the one I am in because one of the houses was sold and the buyer had a well dug.

The other house that the pump supplies is currently empty.

Again. I am not complaining, at ALL, about the amount of money she is asking for.

My point is, if she wants to charge me to be here, then she is gonna have to be responsible for the water supply.

She's not going to have her cake ( getting money from me ) and eat it too ( not being responsible for the property she owns ).

I cant blame her for asking for some rent. And that does seem very very low..

But then at the same time, she has duties as a landlord, and she probably needs to be made aware of them.

If a relative of mine wanted to stay in one of my places, it wouldnt be free. Or even cheap. Business is business.

I have no issues with her wanting a bit of cash.

Hell..I would too.

What you might need to be careful of Jag, is that if you make her aware of the costs that she will be liable to, she could decide that the cost of the rent isnt enough.

Id say your best bet is to talk to her bluntly about it, and try to come up with something mutually beneficial.

I actually have thought of that.

But thanks for bringing it up, Dan.

Well actually what it comes down to she could come back and say okay you want to play hard ball lets play. You have so long to get your mobile home off of my property. End of story now who is on the spot? Or she can say I will lease you the land and your responsibility for all the repairs and upkeep. For actually the home is not hers so it is not the mobile home she is renting to you only the land therefore she is not considered a landlord he is only leasing the land from her. Just a thought to consider.

So, because she owns only the land, she could potentially cut off my water supply any time she feels like it??

I bet that is a state-to-state issue...maybe even a county run ordinance regarding what is a requirement for rental property. Check it out. It's undoubtedly on a website someplace. Or call the county assessor or clerk's office...they MIGHT be able to tell you.

I have no clue about the laws over there. But id guess as things stand, with no formal agreement, she could do what she wants.

Legally she can not cut off your water supply no and she is responsible for the well itself. But not the leaks under the mobile home since she does not own it your mother does.

But she could just say fine I do not want to rent the property any more and ask you to move.

Actualy it looks like to me that you two may be able to work out a deal on the repairs in order to make you both happy and you get to remain in order to have such cheap rent.

Careful! If your cousin owns the land, but not the pump, then even a leak under the trailer, or mobile home, cousin has no liablitily.

Careful! If you spread the news that your mom's trailer has a bad pump, your mom will come and spank you. Instead of paying for the repair for the pump. Especially if it's a plump pump, the kind you choose on your own free will.

Careful! Your mom and your cousin could go into kahootz and one order you off her land, and the other, out of her property.

Do the sweet thing... pay your cousin the bucks for the rental of the land, but do make out a written agreement, so you could stick her to the money she asks for. You don't want an unpleasant surprise of a $100 increase every month. Make an agreement with her, including the maximum amount or rate of each increase, and the periods how often the raises will occur. Also think of all the possible things to do around the house, and nail down who does what, and put it into the agreement. For instance, you promise to cut the grass and clear the snow, but your cousin must pay the tax and pray for fair weather.

Do the sweet thing: Write often to your mother and call her on her birthday and on mothers' day. Send her an elbow-warmer each Xmas, and assure her you will never rob a bank or go out in the cold without gloves.

Ok. here is a misconception. People seem to be missing this part.


I am NOT, I repeat, NOT expecting her to maintain ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE PUMP for the water supply.

I am very aware that I, and ONLY I, am responsible for the work that needs to be done under the house itself.

I apologize if I didn't make that clear prior to this.

She owns the land...and the pump is on the land adjacent to where I am. The pump supplies my water.



Har de har har.



Not a chance. For one thing, I am almost 40. For another, my Mom is signing the title over to me in a couple of weeks.



My cousin doesn't have anything to do with the house itself. Only the land that it sits on.



No worries about that stuff. I see my Mom twice a week.

Whoops

No I understood you only said that to clarify it with others.

Actually your best bet would be to sit down with her give her the estimate on the cost to fix the pump. Tell her it has to be fixed I would almost bet if you said look I will have it fixed and what ever it cost me we will take it as my rent for so many months that way she is not out any money and you get the pump fixed.

But...........if you throw it to her as yeah I'll pay you $100 a month but you are gonna have to fix this pump and it is gonna cost you $400 right now. Then she most likely will say well if that is the case then I will need more rent each month from you.

There are ways to say it that she will feel you are not trying to get to her but actually you come out smelling good and then there are ways she could stick it right back to you.

Also when there is no lease agreement then it is consider verbal and month to month therefore she can raise the rent on the property any time she feels like it.

I'd be getting this stuff in writing. Judge Judy will throw you out on your ear if you don't have a written contract.

Oh I have every intention of getting everything in writing.

And I am not the type to just try to " stick it to her " as far as getting the bill for the pump. I already know what it's going to cost, but I cannot keep going without water while trying to get in contact with her.

Her and I have no personal issues. We have always gotten along very well.

Getting it fixed in exchange for the rent has been my plan all along.

She isn't working and I am not NEARLY that much of a p**ck. :-)

Well actually I did not think you were. It looks like to me the way you are thinking about doing it will work out for both of you and sure she will in fact say that is fine.

I was actually considering just asking her to halve the rent until the balance of the bill is taken care of. I don't think she'll have a problem with that.

Especially since her brother was supposed to drain the pump after my cousin passed but never did it...lol