Pending Lawsuit Against Tennant
Michigan landlord filed lawsuit against tenant for back water bills (made beginner error of having water bill mailed to tenant ) as well as damage to unit . The lawyer he had claimed that the court (municipal) could not be used if I did not first have a "license" to rent from the city. I had a valid license when he moved in yet allowed it to expire (2 year license) Is this a bluff? As the statute in Royal Oak only says a valid license is required to rent a property. It fails to mention expiring liceses whatsoever. He owes 3500 in back water bills as well as 6000 in damages. He signed a lease agreeing to pay the water . He paid 2 water bills after he moved in and lied about not knowing and I have proof the 2 payments were paid and the bill went to him but not the cancelled check . Am I ok?
Looks like you gonna lose this one. I can only imagine how a normal water bill got to the $3500 point. That would take years in Louisiana. It will be easy to prove that you had to have some sort of idea that it wasnt getting paid in the $1000 range.
$6000? Your home should not even have a front door? Throwing out all the appliances and hammering my walls wouldnt touch $3000 for me. Somethings wrong here, better get your facts and explanations straight before going to a judge, you dont need anymore surprises. Good luck
Thanks guys. The Property had a license the day he moved in. It had a license for 2 years after that. The city failed to notify me and as I was working, I failed to fulfill my responsibility and check. The spirit and intent of a license requirement could only be interpreted by logical men is to assure a safe code compliant dwelling inhabitable by a human. Once the license was issued and the human occupied it for 2 years and paid 5 years rent with no written complaint to either myself or the city-it should be assumed that the spirit and intent (decent place to live) remained fullfilled reguarless of a renewed license. I will lawyer up on this one. Thanks again. Mike (as a licensed plumber and mechanical union contractor in Michigan, I have never heard of a contractor being denied payment on a job or fullfilled contract based on a expired license-ever-and I read most every magazine and belong to trade association but if I get a landlord hating judge who knows. )
I’m just wondering. I have never heard about needing a license to rent property. I live in South West Missouri. Is this something like a business license
Have you tried Ron Carpenter, Esq in Gainesville?