Landlord & Tenant, Fair Housing Frequently Asked Questions

I am having a hard time paying my rent and I am not sure if I am going to be able to next month. What should I do?

If you have to dip a heavy hand into your savings account in order to pay your rent the first step would be to try to get rental assistance. There are many government programs that can help. This is something that can take a while and you need to be prepared for that. Meaning start the processes the first time you dip into your savings.

It appears that you may be past this point so your first step should be to call your landlord. If the situation is temporary (meaning paying the rent the following month and each month after will not be an issue) offer to work out a payment plan with your landlord. If you are current on your rent and are in good standing with your landlord this should not be an issue. For the most part they are understanding and are willing to work with you when times get tight. If the situation will be prolonged or you’re unable to come to an agreement with your landlord you should make arrangements to vacate the unit as soon as possible and notify your landlord with a 30-day notice. Be aware that you ARE responsible for paying the rent through those 30 days. Some times a landlord may be willing to waive the 30-day notice but this is something that will need to be worked out on an individual basis.

Fair Housing: Definition of Disability

Mobile Home Park Owners are proud to be advocates of the Fair Housing Act, which provides protection to tenants against discrimination based on race, sex, religion, color, handicap (disability), familial status or national origin. Park Owners across California take great pride in following all of these statues.

What does fair housing define as a disability?

It is a physical or mental impairment, which substantially limits one or more major life activities. This includes: mental illness, AIDS, blindness, hearing impairment, mental retardation, and mobility impairment. Note that Transvestites are expressly excluded from the definition (According to the Fair Housing Authority) unless they experience one of the impairments listed above.

Gift Card Scam

This scam is very simple, burglars claiming to be from a local store call to tell you that you’ve just won a gift card, and you must come into the store to pick it up.

Burglary: This scam is set up to get you out of the house so the robbers can carry out a break-in while you are gone picking up your “Prize”

Protect yourself: This simple trick works because it catches you by surprise. Always be suspicious when someone promises you something for nothing. The Better Business Bureau, which first warned about this scam, advises “winners” to ask questions: What contest did I win? How was I chosen? Call the store to independently confirm the details. After you determine that it’s a scam, notify the police. And take extra precautions to lock up your house, set your alarms, and protect valuables when you do leave, since burglars have clearly targeted your home.