A legal action to terminate a lease based upon a cause set forth in Section 57-16-5 may not be commenced except in accordance with the following procedure:
(1)
Before issuance of any summons and complaint, the mobile home park shall send or serve written notice to the resident or person:
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Terms Used In Utah Code 57-16-6
Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
Fees: means other charges incidental to a resident's tenancy including, but not limited to, late fees, charges for pets, charges for storage of recreational vehicles, charges for the use of park facilities, and security deposits. See Utah Code 57-16-3
Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
Mobile home: means a transportable structure in one or more sections with the plumbing, heating, and electrical systems contained within the unit, which when erected on a site, may be used with or without a permanent foundation as a family dwelling. See Utah Code 57-16-3
Mobile home park: means any tract of land on which two or more mobile home spaces are leased, or offered for lease or rent, to accommodate mobile homes for residential purposes. See Utah Code 57-16-3
Rent: means charges paid for the privilege of occupying a mobile home space, and may include service charges and fees. See Utah Code 57-16-3
Resident: means an individual who leases or rents space in a mobile home park. See Utah Code 57-16-3
Service charges: means separate charges paid for the use of electrical and gas service improvements which exist at a mobile home space, or for trash removal, sewage and water, or any combination of the above. See Utah Code 57-16-3
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
(a)
by delivering a copy of the notice personally;
(b)
by sending a copy of the notice through registered or certified mail addressed to the resident or person at the person’s place of residence;
(c)
if the resident or person is absent from the person’s place of residence, by leaving a copy of the notice with some person of suitable age and discretion at the individual’s residence and sending a copy through registered or certified mail addressed to the resident or person at the person’s place of residence; or
(d)
if a person of suitable age or discretion cannot be found, by affixing a copy of the notice in a conspicuous place on the resident’s or person’s mobile home and also sending a copy through registered or certified mail addressed to the resident or person at the person’s place of residence.
(2)
(a)
The notice required by Subsection (1) shall set forth:
(i)
the cause for the notice and, if the cause is one which can be cured, the time within which the resident or person has to cure; and
(ii)
the time after which the mobile home park may commence legal action against the resident or person if cure is not effected.
(b)
In addition to the requirements described in Subsection (2)(a), the notice shall conform to the following:
(i)
in the event of failure to abide by a mobile home park rule, the notice shall provide for a cure period as provided in Subsections 57-16-5(1)(a) and (2), except in the case of repeated violations and, shall state that if a cure is not timely effected, or a written agreement made between the mobile home park and the resident allowing for a variation in the rule or cure period, eviction proceedings may be initiated immediately;
(ii)
if a resident, a member, or invited guest or visitor of the resident’s household commits repeated violations of a rule, a summons and complaint may be issued three days after a notice is served;
(iii)
if a resident, a member, or invited guest or visitor of the resident’s household behaves in a manner that threatens or substantially endangers the well-being, security, safety, or health of other persons in the park or threatens or damagesproperty in the park, eviction proceedings may commence immediately;
(iv)
if a resident does not pay rent, fees, or service charges, the notice shall provide a five-day cure period and, that if cure is not timely effected, or a written agreement made between the mobile home park and the resident allowing for a variation in the rule or cure period, eviction proceedings may be initiated immediately; and
(v)
if a lease is terminated because of a planned change in land use or condemnation of the park or a portion of the park, the notice required by Section 57-16-18 serves as notice of the termination of the lease.
(3)
(a)
Eviction proceedings commenced under this chapter and based on causes set forth in Subsections 57-16-5(1)(a), (b), and (e) shall be brought in accordance with the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure and may not be treated as unlawful detainer actions under 8.
(b)
Eviction proceedings commenced under this chapter and based on causes of action set forth in Subsection 57-16-5(1)(c), (d), or (f) may, at the election of the mobile home park, be treated as an action brought under this chapter or under the unlawful detainer provisions of 8.
(c)
If unlawful detainer is charged, the summons shall include the number of days within which the defendant is required to appear and defend the action, which shall not be less than five days or more than 21 days from the date of service.
