The sltrib tells MHProNews Steve Anderson and his wife, residents of Cottonwood Coves MHC in Murray, Utah just outside Salt Lake City allege the owner, Terry Robison, unilaterally changed the terms of the contract they signed in 2004 without their signature. Initially, sewer and water fees were included in the rent but a May, 2012 notice from management said those utilities would now be metered separately for each home in the community. Management offset the increased cost by dropping site rents $18/month in the 168-site community. Robison also dropped the grace period for paying rent from ten days to five, and increased the late payment charge from ten percent of the rent and $2 a day to $100 and $5 a day. In addition, rents are set to increase to $537/month on Feb. 1, a $39 a month rise for the couple. A breach of contract lawsuit they filed was dismissed by the judge, so they have re-written the complaint. Robison, who has owned the community since 1999, when asked about the increases said, “It’s just business, it’s what we have to do — it’s what landlords have to deal with all the time.” He feels certain he will prevail in the upcoming lawsuit as well. Steve Anderson is past president of the Utah Manufactured Homeowners Action Group and serves on the executive board of the National Manufactured Home Owners Association.

(Photo credit: Francisco Kjolseth/Salt Lake Tribune–Nancy and Steve Anderson)