Need advice on law or little input from a lawyer

[PBR]

Hoping someone might give me some advice or little help here if they have been through same thing or knows exactly how to word a letter. Long story short I had some family that I let move a trailer on my property. Well they end up splitting up and moved out, this has been over 2 months ago. Sad part is they left owing me money on bills (water and cable). The trailer was given back to the finance company (as it was already 2 months behind when they left). But they have not come and picked it up nor even show interest in doing it really. The main problem is it's costing me just sitting there around 100 per month or more cause the water company is charging me as a business so my rates are higher plus paying for 2 garbage pick ups and so on. They will not change the rates till it is gone, I have contacted the finance company everyday for weeks now and all they say is they will get in touch with moving company. Well I contacted a moving company and asked them what I could do, they told me to write up a letter telling them that I am charging them rent for the trailer being there. They said it would be best to have a lawyer write it up or help me write it up and that I could charge them whatever is reasonable till they finally come get it and pay me what is owed. Problem is I don't have or know any lawyers and being fixed income can't probably afford to go to one. Just wondering if anyone has dealt with something like this before or happens to have knowledge on the way everything should be written. Trying to be nice and help family has once again burnt me, as I never charged them rent or anything but know they have left me with over $500 on the bills and still costing me monthly.

[WildBill]

PBR - I feel sorry for your situation. I was looking on the Texas Bar Association website and you may be able to get a 30 minute consultation with a lawyer for about $20.
If no one else has any other advice you may want to check it out to see what kind of options you have.

https://www.texasbar.com/Content/Naviga ... efault.htm

[tomtexan]

Is this a travel trailer or mobile home?

[puma guy]

Maybe you could call your city to inform them it's abandoned and have them remove it. If you've given the finance company notice to remove it and they failed to do so after 30 days it's considered abandoned at least that's what I see on Judge Judy, but I'm not sure what constitutes abandoned property in Texas..

[PBR]

Is this a travel trailer or mobile home?

It is a mobile home

[PBR]

Maybe you could call your city to inform them it's abandoned and have them remove it. If you've given the finance company notice to remove it and they failed to do so after 30 days it's considered abandoned at least that's what I see on Judge Judy, but I'm not sure what constitutes abandoned property in Texas..

I'm in Harris County outside the city of Houston. Supposedly she contacted them the day she moved out cause she was already 2 (almost 3) months behind. She stated they tried to talk her into working out new finance and payments but she told them no, she had no more interest in it. That was closing in 3 months ago. Now she isn't responding to me at all cause of the money already owed to me she left out on. I ended up finding a number to the finance company from when she got behind some time back and called to talk the someone and have called them everyday for last week or more and all I ever get is they will get with moving company. I called a moving company just to ask them some questions they stated best thing to do was contact a lawyer (real estate lawyer preferred) and send them a letter giving them a time limit to move it and if not moved I could start charging them storage on it. They said to make everything correct though that would need to be lawyer. I contacted two real estate lawyers and they wanted 4 to 5 hundred for writing the letter. I have tried looking for something online as I would think something or a general type letter would be found. Was hoping maybe someone with landlord experience or renter might know what needs to be said or what else can be done cause don't have 4 to 5 hundred for that. Sad part is when she was behind several times throughout couple years they were here right away wanting to move it and threatening to take it. Now they know no one is living in it and they don't want it not a word on moving it.

[PBR]

PBR - I feel sorry for your situation. I was looking on the Texas Bar Association website and you may be able to get a 30 minute consultation with a lawyer for about $20.
If no one else has any other advice you may want to check it out to see what kind of options you have.

https://www.texasbar.com/Content/Naviga ... efault.htm

I might end up trying that route if nothing else comes up or can figure anything else out

[sugar land dave]

I am not a lawyer, but some quick research might help you get where you need to be. Note the four months abandoned requirement.

http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/txstatutes/ ... E/1201.217

https://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/mh/docs/1 ... Notice.pdf

http://www.justanswer.com/real-estate-l ... arcel.html

Hope some of this helps point you towards proper legal help.

[PBR]

I am not a lawyer, but some quick research might help you get where you need to be. Note the four months abandoned requirement.

http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/txstatutes/ ... E/1201.217

https://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/mh/docs/1 ... Notice.pdf

http://www.justanswer.com/real-estate-l ... arcel.html

Hope some of this helps point you towards proper legal help.

Thanks couple of those links did help especially the one provided link to look up lien holder and everything -- got in touch with the actual lien holder today guess the other number was whom the trailer was purchased from.

[sjfcontrol]

Do you know any real estate agents? They might be a source of advice less expensive than a lawyer (or free if they're your friend).

[LeakyWaders]

Is it possible for you to rent it to someone on a month to month basis and at least make a little money on it?

[The Wall]

If it's not in your name make sure it's license is there and push it out onto the street. It's not your responsibility to store their trailer. If someone asks you about it just say you have no idea. Unless you're trying to get it claimed abandoned so you can sell it and make some money. Can you put a lean on it?

[SA_Steve]

Lean it over for sure.

[PBR]

Well thanks to all, it seems getting a hold of the correct people helps. Finally found the lien holder from http://mhweb.tdhca.state.tx.us/mhweb/title_view.jsp Contacted them on the 17th telling them that I was giving them 7 days to move it or I would lock it down with chains and charge them storage as it has been abandoned for almost 3 months. At 8am this morning they were here to remove it. Turns out she hadn't contacted them at all on picking it up (even though almost 5 months behind) and the people I had been in contact with was whom she bought it from not the finance or lien holders. Sucks that it took so long and cost me money especially after everything I done helping them. Now if I could only collect from her what she owes me but no chance of that but at least no worries of ever having to help her again anyway. Still thinking of calling them back cause they left a big mess for me to clean up, they just left the skirting laying where they took it off and large plastic sheet from underneath but at least it is gone.

[WildBill]

Well thanks to all, it seems getting a hold of the correct people helps. Finally found the lien holder from http://mhweb.tdhca.state.tx.us/mhweb/title_view.jsp Contacted them on the 17th telling them that I was giving them 7 days to move it or I would lock it down with chains and charge them storage as it has been abandoned for almost 3 months. At 8am this morning they were here to remove it. Turns out she hadn't contacted them at all on picking it up (even though almost 5 months behind) and the people I had been in contact with was whom she bought it from not the finance or lien holders. Sucks that it took so long and cost me money especially after everything I done helping them. Now if I could only collect from her what she owes me but no chance of that but at least no worries of ever having to help her again anyway. Still thinking of calling them back cause they left a big mess for me to clean up, they just left the skirting laying where they took it off and large plastic sheet from underneath but at least it is gone.

Great news!