Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

We live in a mobile home park in San Diego County, Ca...... We have a signed lease agreement and have lived here approx 5 years......WE now have a dog.........it is a chihuahua mix and is within all specified requirements as stated in the lease(ie size,vaccinated,licensed etc)...... the management now insists that we install a 6' fence around our property...... or a 15' dog run in the backyard....... this dog weighs 2 pounds and lives INDOORS 100% of the time.......we erected a 4'by 3' fenced in area in the back yard..... since the lease only states "resident must have a fenced area for dogs"...... NOWHERE in the lease agreement or pet agreement is any measurement mentioned anywhere..... it only says "resident must have a fenced in area for dogs"........I feel a 6' fence around my property or a 15' dog run is not only not specified in the lease agreement... it is unreasonable for a 2 pound dog that lives indoors 100% of the time.....they have threatend legal action and I am likely going to court...... can they specify and hold me to a certain demension/measurement when nothing of that sort is mentioned in the lease agreement?? I think I have a good case and am eager for a professional opinion.


Asked on 5/12/10, 6:11 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

David Gibbs The Gibbs Law Firm, APC

It is impossible to say whether you have a good defense to their action or not, without reviewing the Rules and Regulations of the park, the Pet Agreement you probably (or should have) signed when you obtained management's approval for the dog, and all other correspondence on the matter. Giving you an opinion based on these facts is just not possible because so many other factors play into what the management may or may not require. While we may agree that a 15' dog run, or 6' fence is excessive for a 2 pound dog, if you somewhere agreed to these terms, then you are very likely stuck with them. Have an attorney familiar with the Mobilehome Residency Law review the information for you. Richard Singer Law Offices in San Diego has a long history of representing tenants in mobile home parks. Give their offices a call.

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Answered on 5/19/10, 11:44 am


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