Oregon

            You do a lot for your communities’ residents. The question is: do we make a mistake by not reminding them from time to time about all of the things they would truly miss if these things went away or were even curtailed? And while it is true that most of the things we do to operate and manage our parks are for reasons like the bottom line, they for sure benefit the residents. Take rent increases, as an example. No one likes them, of course. The sting of a rent increase may be lessened if the residents realize all of the things the owners and managers do with the residents’ best interests at heart. Residents rarely think about what an inviting mobilehome park you provide and what it takes to keep it that way. And, why should they? It’s the owners’ and managers’ job to keep things running smoothly. The next time you: raise the rent, amend a rule, change a policy, reframe it in your own mind and think “what’s the benefit to the resident?”. Everyone’s favorite radio station is WIIFM (What’s In It For Me). We need to adapt our mindset a bit.

Question: A resident stops by the manager’s office on the 5th of the month and offers to pay $150 of the $350 of rent that is due, and promising to pay the remaining $200 by the 15^thof the month.  The tenant claims that the landlord mustaccept the partial payment.  What are the landlord's options?  Can the landlord refuse the partial payment?  Where do you draw the line - say a 72 hour notice has been issued - does that change the partial payment scenario?

Resident record management is anything but sexy.  Nevertheless, it is essential to maintaining a profitable manufactured housing community.  All too often community owners and managers think the job of records management is over once a new resident moves into the community.  After all, if the file checklist has been followed and all the appropriate forms have been completed what else is there to do.  Lets examine the importance of maintaining accurate resident records through the use of two examples.

Both state and federal law prohibit discrimination in the selling, renting or leasing of real property.  Federal fair housing laws have been in place since 1968.  Federal law makes it illegal to discriminate in the sale, purchase or lease of property on account of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status or handicap and sexual orientation. 

Question:  If a manager is going to give a resident their third 72-hour notice within 12 months, does the manager give the 72-hour notice and then wait for payment, which if the resident pays then serve the 30 day three strikes notice?