Fate of seniors on the line in landlord/tenant dispute

Fate of seniors on the line in landlord/tenant dispute

When a landlord decides to sell a building, the fate of those who live there can get complicated. A dispute may erupt and halt the plans if tenants feel blindsided or unfairly treated by the owner of the building. Michigan elderly who live in senior living facilities may not be immune to this type of scenario and can become the participants in a landlord/tenant dispute that results in litigation.

One case making news recently involves a landlord of a 130-room facility for seniors. The landlord has attempted to shut down the facility and sell the building for over $76 million. A plan was approved in which the residents were given three months to find a new place to go. A judge has halted the eviction of the remaining residents, which currently stands at seven tenants.

The residents sued the landlord. Those residents have said the closure of the facility was not legal. They also charge the landlord with increasing the rent while services at the facility were decreased. This included specifically a refusal to turn on air conditioning in the summer. Because of the current suit, a judge determined the tenants cannot be evicted while the case is pending, and the tenants have agreed to pay the amount of the original rent.

While the outcome of this case is pending, others involved in a landlord/tenant dispute in Michigan may benefit from learning more about how eviction may be halted while a case is active. The agreement to pay original rent while a higher rent or closure is challenged can help both parties prepare for any upcoming changes or obstacles to the current situation. Legal clarification of tenant rights when a landlord sells a building can help those tenants understand what to expect and what grounds for litigation or negotiation may be applicable.

Source: therealdeal.com, “Landlord barred from evicting seniors amid dispute“, July 13, 2015

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