What legal standings do I have regarding my mother’s property?
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What legal standings do I have regarding my mother’s property?
For the last 3 years I have lived on property in my mother’s name with a verbal agreement to pay certain bills for the use of her property. I pay the school and land tax associated with the 2 acres I live on, as well as a cell phone for my mother and a monthly trash service. I paid for a septic to be designed and built, driveway, wells drilled (now share a well due to well unstability), 2 acres of land surveyed for the modular home and land maintainace. About 6 months ago a certified letter was mailed stating that I had 6 months to vacate the property.I have just now recieved a certified letter stating the property would be gated and locked and the shared water would be turned off to the property and I would be removed as a trespasser. What can I do in this situation? Is it legal for her to deny me and my kids access to our home and to cut off our water supply?
Asked on July 10, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
From what you have written so long as your mother owns the property you occupy and are living on as a tenant, she has the legal right to terminate your tenancy by way of the certified letter that you have written about.
Your mother cannot unilaterally cut off the water for the premises legally. I suggest that you and your mother have a face to face meeting about the rental issue to try and rectify any and all issues that you may have as to each other.
If you cannot resolve the issues you have with her, you seemingly have a situation where your lease has come to an end. You may wish to consult with a landlord tenant attorney further regarding the matter you have written about.
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