Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Michigan

Owner threatening to remove my belongings while I work

I moved into a house 5 years ago. The house is owned by a friend of my dad's. It needed a great deal of work to bring it up to code (plumbing, electrical.) There was a murder in it, and that needed to be cleaned up. The deal was that my dad and I would do all the work, and the owner would sell the house to me on a land contract. My monthly payments would go towards buying the house. Every time I have asked about putting something in writing, the owner has said no problem, don't worry about it, but has done nothing. A few months ago, I finally said I would not pay anymore until the land contract was signed. Now he is trying to evict me, and he is saying I was only renting, not buying. My dad and I put over $10,000 into this house (and we have the receipts to prove it.) The owner is threatening to send ''some guys'' over to take all my stuff out of the house while I am at work. What can I do? I know I need to get a lawyer, and I'm trying to borrow the money from a friend to do that. But in the meantime, how can I stop him from taking my stuff out while I am working, and changing the locks? Can I call the police if these guys come? What should I show the police to prove I live here? The owner has not gone through eviction proceedings


Asked on 2/08/07, 9:45 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Christopher Sevick Law Office of Christopher Sevick, PLC

Re: Owner threatening to remove my belongings while I work

First, I do agree that is sounds as if you do need an attorney to assist you in protecting your rights and make the �Owner/Landlord� aware that someone knowledgeable in the law is assist you so you are on the right track there.

Second, without eviction actions the owner may not legally move any of your items out, change the locks, or prevent your from access to the home. If those things do happen you may call the police and file a report for the illegal action. It may prove beneficial to have that later. The owner may be liable for loss/theft of your items if they are moved out without a court order. As a safety measure I would take any truly valuable items such as jewelry out of the home to a safe just in case the owner does do that.

You ask how you would prove you live there, a driver�s license is good, but what is truly better is a copy of any water, gas or electric bill, as well as a statement from your insurance company if you have renter/homeowners insurance. You may wish to have a copy with you in your car or purse to show the police easily.

www.SevickLaw.com

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Answered on 2/08/07, 11:05 am


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