Full question:
My boyfriend is purchasing a mobile home for contract for deed and is a couple months behind on his payments. The man he is buying it from went into the trailer and changed the locks and put no trespassing signs on the door. That same day in the mailbox was a letter from the sellers attorney stating that the trailer has been abandoned, even though the lot rent that the trailer sits on has been paid by my boyfriend and the electricity is in his name. He does not have the money for an attorney and the seller knows this, IS THIS LEGAL? I have read and reread his purchase agreement and it does not say anything about what will happen if his payments are late, it also doesn't say in his agreement that late fees will be applied if he is late in paying, so can the seller automatically charge him late fees if it doesn't say so in the purchase agreement?
- Category: Contracts
- Subcategory: Lease Agreements
- Date:
- State: Minnesota
Answer:
In Minnesota, the law regarding abandoned property does not automatically apply to mobile homes. A seller cannot simply declare the mobile home abandoned without following legal procedures. If your boyfriend has been paying the lot rent and has the electricity in his name, these actions indicate he has not abandoned the property.
Regarding late fees, if the purchase agreement does not specify that late fees will be charged for late payments, the seller typically cannot impose them. Contracts must clearly outline any fees or penalties for late payments to be enforceable.
For specific legal advice, it’s recommended to consult with a qualified attorney, especially since your boyfriend is facing potential eviction or repossession issues.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.