Reality Checks Needed - tenant situation

[Muttly]

Ok, I guess I am looking for reality checks.

I had a camping trailer that basically got dumped on my property (long story). I posted it for sale a variety of places. Finally, in october a lady and her friend came out to take a look. I sold the trailer as a fixer upper. I told her about the problems I was aware of. I let them spend a good amount of time checking it out. I will admit I didn't go looking for problems before selling it. When asked why I dropped the price (I had several times) I explained that I'd had troubles selling it and discovered one of the pipes inside leaked.

She bought the trailer and I agreed to take payments. While she was paying it off, she started fixing it up. On my property. She is basically homeless and planned to move in to the trailer. She was having troubles finding an affordable place to park the trailer and live in it. I told her she could maybe rent a space from me.

I've gotten to know her and as a person she's very nice. I suspect her boyfriend is abusive. She's trying to get away from him and that's part of the reason she wants the trailer. She is on disability due to some physical problems. She also has PTSD. I've done some stuff to help her out like getting her hooked up with the local food bank. I've let her use some of my stuff including my shower. I let her move in and use my washer and dryer. She's hooked up to my electricity. She's here much of the time but she also sleeps/lives elsewhere. The trailer turned out to need more fixing up than she or I realized. She seems dependent on friends to fix it.

So... fast forward. She finally paid the trailer off in December. I haven't received any rent. I told her that in January I would need to start receiving rent. I also told her that since it was more of a fixer upper than expected I would knock a $100 off for January and February. She responded by saying she is broke and trying to get her car working and her daughter needs surgery. And that having no water/toilet makes living their difficult. The no water is because of cracked pipes. She also talked about trying to get some under the table jobs. Then she said she'd have something for me on Tuesday. She also told me the tank needed dumping. It shouldn't. That's one thing I do know for sure is it has been dumped. I do understand the trailer needs repairs. I know the water hasn't been fixed. I know she's worried about using the propane because she isn't sure if there's a leak. I also know she's had the trailer since October. Her car doesn't work so she can only get here when she gets a ride.

So, Tuesday came and no money. I got all twisted up and wondered if I was taking advantage of her and was just generally having a lot of PTSD issues and let it go. That was two weeks ago. Somewhere in there she told me she was sick and asked to use my shower. Then it seemed she wasn't over there although the lights were left on. So Monday I told her I needed to know what was going on. She said she'd pay me $200 on Wedneday. That's $100 short but I said ok. Wednesday, the only thing I heard from her was her asking for a ride to the food bank. I was at an all day working interview (meaning I spent 10 hours working for a veterinary clinic to see if they would want to hire me). I was exhausted when I got home. It seemed like she wasn't home. I let it go. I have heard nothing else from her and it's now Friday.

So.. am I a slum lord demanding money from a woman who's daughter is getting heart surgery? Am I someone who conned a homeless person into buying a trailer that is inhabitable? Am I getting taken advantage of? Do I have any right to demand rent? If she won't pay rent and I tell her she has to leave am I heartless?

 

[scout86]

How would you, ideally, like this to be resolved? (And, where you live, is it legal for her to be living the trailer, on your property, with or without paying rent? Because someplaces, it's not going to be legal.)

If she stays, she's going to be looking to you for help of one sort or another as long she's there. Count on it. If that's ok with you, accept it and drive on. She might even pay you now and then, but expect it to be an ongoing problem.

That might sound pretty cynical. (Probably because I AM pretty cynical.) It took me a long time to figure this out, but there are some people who make their way though this world by making excuses and using people. It's a skill set, just like cooking, cleaning, or computer programming. Her whole story could be true. Or not. Chances are it's going to be variations on the theme, as long as you know her. Personally, I'd do whatever it took to get her, and her trailer, gone asap.

 

[LuckiLee]

You could give her money back and cancel the whole arrangement. It probably sounds mean but it seems like she will continue to take advantage of you. Or you could make it a legal contract and have her sign a written lease agreement. Good luck with everything!

 

[Changing4Best]

I am going to play it from her viewpoint for a moment here. You sold her something that was far more damaged and far less usable than you told her it was (if I understand this correctly). I do understand that you were unaware of the extent of the damage, but the facts are the facts. Yes, you have gone out of your way to help her. Yes, she is using your utilities without paying you for them, not to mention your property. However, until the trailer is livable, I doubt any judge would go along with a verbal agreement you made that she pay you, when the trailer is not livable, and I suspect she knows this.

I don't know what to advise you to do. I have been a landlady before, so I truly feel for you. Maybe the only thing you can do is unhook your utilities from it. You can give her a written request to remove her property from your land. Ideally, if you get the job, I'd contact a lawyer. This is a dicey situation at best. Only a lawyer can advise you of your rights and responsibilities.

 

[Mach123]

I don't like lawyers and saying find an honest one is like saying IDK what but I've been screwed by a bunch of them so be careful. You probably need one though. Get one before she does. I'm sorry because everything you said tells me you're honest and you tried to do something good and now you're getting screwed or at the very least you have a problem you don't need. "Let no good deed go unpunished." I hope you get out of it without too much expense or aggravation. (More expense or aggravation.)

 

[Muttly]

ok, to back up a bit, I guess at this point I'm not even close to considering a lawyer. I wasn't even asking about the legal end of things. I guess... I'm just trying to figure out if I even have the right to ask for rent. Am I taking advantage of her?

Of all the responses, the thing that I fixated on was:

You sold her something that was far more damaged and far less usable than you told her it was (if I understand this correctly).

I am not even sure that's fully accurate. But I read this and think I'm a horrible person who tricked her into buying a trailer that is unlivable and is now trying to coerce her into paying rent. Or in other words I'm a lousy person who only thinks of myself and takes advantage of others.

 

[Changing4Best]

I don't think you intentionally did anything wrong. It is the situation and her lifestyle in general that has put you in this rather unenviable position.

 

[Sideways]

is now trying to coerce her into paying rent. Or in other words I'm a lousy person who only thinks of myself and takes advantage of others.

You’ve tried to help this person out. That’s a good quality.

And you can ask her for rent. But I doubt there’s going to become a point anytime soon where she can reliably pay any meaningful amount. If she could reliably pay money towards any kind of rent, she wouldn’t be partly living in a run-down trailer on a stranger’s front lawn.

If you’d like to help this person? Maybe direct her to a womens shelter where she may have a shot at pulling her life together. I’m absolutely convinced you want to help, but this situation doesn’t actually sound helpful to either of you.

As for getting lawyers involved? Pfft, to what end? Perhaps consider a social worker though?

 

[Muttly]

@LuckiLee Giving her, her money back would be hugely difficult for me. I don't have the money. The main reason I was selling the trailer is because I am broke. And frankly, I don't want the trailer on my property, so that was the other reason I was selling it. I don't have a truck to tow it or the time or energy to fix it up.

@Sideways I always appreciate your wise advice. When I took her to the food bank, she was supposed to go back to meet with someone to connect her with more services and potential a social worker. She didn't, to my knowledge follow through with that. I did tell her, for that, I would try to help with a ride.

@scout86 I don't know how I want it resolved? I mean, I guess if I'm getting nothing back I would like her to move the trailer out? (And instantly I worry that is selfish). I don't know. Even if I was getting some sort of consistent communication as to what's going on, I would be willing to try to make something work for both of us. But as it stands, I have no clue. And there's the electricity. And the way her stuff is starting to spread and take up more and more of my space.

I don't think she's someone who goes through life using people. I'm not the best judge of things like this so I could be all wrong. It seems more like she can't manage her life and maybe expects/needs help? But then.... maaaaybe I do feel like there's some manipulation. Or maybe it's just really indirect communication? Or I have a guilt complex. Sigh.

 

[Friday]

Sweetie... meant kindly... you’re actually asking legal questions.

1. Sale of a vehicle (as is).
2. Landlord responsibilities (mobile home park)

I can give you an opinionated laypersons’ perspective from having lived in over 30 states & roughly a dozen countries... part of which always includes looking up the local laws before buying/selling/leasing anything I care about not leaving on the side of the road or being evicted from...

And I can point you to the RCWs on those (links following), but I can tell you right now well within the guidelines of from everything you’ve said. Which means that,

1. NO you’re not a terrible person for selling a fixer upper as a fixer upper, you acted in good faith. People are allowed to sell old, battered, broke down, problematic, & even total junker vehicles. They just have to be up front about it, and price it accordingly. Which you were. Nope. It does not matter that there was more wrong than you thought, as you sold it “as is” AND as a “fixer upper”. There’s always more wrong with those than the owner/buyer knows, that’s why it’s being sold that way, instead of with limited problems listed and at a higher price.

1.5 There is nothing wrong with you for selling a fixer upper as a fixer upper. A lot of people? Loooooove those. They love gutting them. Tinkering with them. Rebuilding them. It’s either so much fun they do it as a hobby, or they’re so good at it they’ve turned it into their livelihood. That your buyer isn’t one of those people (it doesn’t sound like?) isn’t your fault. And the only reflection on you is how you have bent over backwards, far beyond what the law requires, to help her. You’re not required to do most of what you’ve done. You’ve simply done it out of the goodness of your heart. Yes. That is a finite resource, and DO NOT feel badly about that. You are NOT required to carry her at all, much less indefinitely.

2. NO you’re not a slum lord // you are in no way responsible for maintaining the vehicle or livability of the vehicle in the mobile home park, just the park itself.

Manufactured/ Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act | Washington State

Chapter 59.20 RCW: MANUFACTURED/MOBILE HOME LANDLORD-TENANT ACT

RCW 46.12.650: Releasing interest—Reports of sale—Transfer of ownership—Requirements—Penalty, exceptions.

Buying a Car “As Is” | DMV.ORG

As is" is a legal term describing the status of an item for sale. It means the item is being sold complete with all issues known and unknown. Essentially, the term frees the seller from legal recourse should an unexpected problem arise with the item after the sale.

In the case of a car being sold “as is," the term refers to a vehicle's warranty status. A car being sold “as is" is being sold without a warranty. That means that any problem with the car is no longer the responsibility of the dealer or private seller once it has been sold. All repair costs will come directly out of pocket for the buyer.

You have gone infinitely above and beyond for the woman.

Stop beating yourself up. Now. Seriously.

 

[blackemerald1]

Totally agree with @Friday - you are definitely not any of those labels you wrote.

Put it this way... 'buyer beware?'

Unhook the electricity and no more showering in your home... She'll either move the trailer or herself onwards fairly quickly when your goodwill has dried up.

If she abandon's the trailer on your property.. contact the local municipality about abandoned vehicles. I assume you have a receipt saying she has now acquired it?

You've got a good heart :hug:

 

[scout86]

It seems more like she can't manage her life and maybe expects/needs help?

A good friend gave me a great line that I use in a variety situations. "That would be above my pay grade."

You're quite probably right about her. But she's not your job or your responsibility. It doesn't sound to me like you tricked her into buying the trailer. It does sound like she was overly optimistic about the trailer. It also sounds like you've gone above and beyond ever since. That was nice of you, I don't think it was something you owed her. If I'd bought a used trailer I'd have planned to have to move it when i paid for it, from then on, it's my own problem.