Complaint Review: M & M Mobile Home Villa Management

RE: Space #95

The object of this report is to inform others regarding policies of this park

My name is Elizabeth Galloway. I moved into this park with my son in August of 1998 after buying a new mobile home. Soon after, I became engaged to Paul, a health care professional. During the summer of 1999, Paul began staying with us all of the time. We combined our incomes and I was able to buy a much needed car. We, together, pay all of our bills on time, including our lot rent at this park.

Tat summer, I had to reapply to renew my lease and make it a month-to-month lease. I paid another application fee and filled out an application. I put Paul on the application to get him on the lease as a resident here, but the resident manager took Paul's name off of it. I had told here we were working on Paul's credit due to some things in the past that needed straightening out on his credit reports. She seemed understanding many, many people have at least some negative things on their credit reports. This park had pages and pages of rules and regulations and a very strict process by which to be approved.

The fact of the matter in this case is, that I along, or Paul & I together, have never, ever been late on our lot rent, are quiet, keep our home and lot area clean and nice, and are very good tenants. With this in mind, and the fact that I am approved already to live here, there should be no problems.

The resident manager here decided to cut down a tree on our lot in November of 19999 while we were away and had not even talked to us about it. Paul was upset about it we had watered and nurtured it for months and it was beautiful and gave our driveway a little privacy. Paul tried to talk to the resident manager and property manager about t his and neighbor seemed to care how we felt about the situation. I called the park office and was told to talk to the property manager. Management then began to make a fuss over Paul living her with my son and I.

The management began to threaten me with a 7-day pay or Quit notice and throw us out of the park and out of our own home. They told me they'd call my bank, where I have my mortgage and have my home reposed! I went to the home park office, very upset and crying, and talked some more and signed some papers. Later I found out one stated I'd pay guest fees for Paul's stay here that totaled up to over $800. I thought it was all part of the normal paperwork of the park and was told it was routine and that they'd send me a copy of it alter after it was completed.

I have worked long and hard to finally get my credit where it is today and would be devastated to have it ruined over this. Paul and I work very hard together and are working on paying bills off while keeping all things current.

We paid; yet another application fee and turned in a completely new application for Paul so he could get approved officially to be living here. It was denied.

The anxiety from the turmoil, threats and bullying this park has done to us has been very disturbing and I have even developed physical problems over the stress of all of this. I've seen a doctor and had o have tests run and the doctor determined that it is all stress-induced!

Meanwhile, another tree was cut down on our lot while we were gone which was a palm tree that we were told we had to have trimmed and skinned a few month before and we paid to have that done. They could at least let us know why they need to do these things and consult with us I recently had a notice on my door saying we need to put trash in the trash can and not beside the container only in it. I am being harassed. We pay for the lot every month and should have some rights and privacy in our own home. The lot rent has gone up twice just since August of 1998!

Now, here it is February 2000 and I had a visit form the resident manager telling me I should sell my home or something because I would probably be evicted soon! Eviction would be very unfair to us. My son is in the middle of a school year at an elementary school in the area. I can't sell my home that quick and certainly don't want to lose it to the bank and have my credit ruined when we are working so hard. This is my home right now and I should not be forced to leave it.

I received a release notice in January stating that everything was okay with the situation. I finally felt like I could relax again and not feel like I was going to be thrown out of my home onto the street. Then todayI got the visit mentioned above. I feel like a monster has reared it's ugly head. I have never had to go through this kind of thing in my life. It is very distressing. They have been forcing me to pay guest fees for my fiance! This is definitely a Rip-Off. This entire situation is turning in to one big heartache and financial mess.

I have found out that this park was being picketed soon before I moved in due to rent increases and general dissatisfaction with the policies of the park here. I wish I had known all of this before moving in. I only knew it is a family park in a good area. We have also heard numerous stories about others being unfairly evicted form this park. People's lives are being turned upside down, including mine. Management should not be allowed to do this to people.

Paul Hutchinson
Elizabeth Galloway