What is the definition of "common area maintenance" items which may be charged back to tenants?
Full Question:
Does the Delaware code re commercial leases contain a definition of allowable "common area maintenance" items which may be proportionately charged back to a tenant by a landlord?
04/05/2007 |
Category: Landlord Tenant |
State: Delaware |
#2668
Answer:
The following is a DE statute related to student housing/dormitories:
§ 8802. Definitions.
(a) "Common areas" mean those areas within a building which are normally accessible to all residents, including the corridors, and lounge or lobby areas, and areas which contain elements of fire hazards, such as boiler rooms or storage areas.
(b) "Dormitories" shall mean buildings or portions thereof containing rooms which are provided as residences for overnight sleeping for individuals and all residential occupancies for student housing owned by the schools, colleges or universities. This definition does not apply to residential occupancies used exclusively for staff or faculty residences.
(c) "Equipped throughout" means installed in the common areas as well as in the areas utilized for sleeping within a dormitory.
(73 Del. Laws, c. 391, § 1.)
The following DE statute deals wit manufctured homes:
§ 7003. Definitions.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, if a word or term is not defined under this section, it has its ordinarily accepted meaning or means what the context implies. In this subchapter, the following definitions apply.
(1) "Agreement" means a written rental agreement.
(2) "Authority" means the Delaware Manufactured Home Relocation Authority.
(3) "Common area" means shared land or facilities within a manufactured home community over which the landlord retains control.
(4) "Community owner" or "landlord" means the owner of two or more manufactured home lots offered for rent. It includes a lessor, sub-lessor, park owner or receiver of two or more manufactured home lots offered for rent, as well as any person, other than a lender not in possession, who directly or indirectly receives rents for 2 or more manufactured home lots offered for rent and who has no obligation to deliver such rents to another person.
(5) "Guest" or "visitor" means a person who is not a tenant or resident of a manufactured home community and who is on the premises of the manufactured home community with the express or implied permission of a tenant or resident of the community.
(6) "Hold over" means to retain possession of a rented lot in a manufactured home community after the termination, nonrenewal, or expiration of a rental agreement governing the rented lot.
(7) "Holdover" means an act of retaining or a tenant who retains possession of a rented lot in a manufactured home community after the termination, nonrenewal, or expiration of a rental agreement governing the rented lot.
(8) "Home owner" or "tenant" means an owner of a manufactured home who has a tenancy of a lot in a manufactured home community; a lessee.
(9) "Landlord" or "community owner" means the owner of 2 or more manufactured home lots offered for rent. It includes a lessor, sub-lessor, park owner or receiver of 2 or more manufactured home lots offered for rent, as well as any person, other than a lender not in possession, who directly or indirectly receives rents for 2 or more manufactured home lots offered for rent and who has no obligation to deliver such rents to another person.
(10) "Lease" or "rental agreement" means a written contract between a landlord and a tenant establishing the terms and conditions whereby a manufactured home is placed upon or is allowed to remain upon a rented or leased lot in a manufactured home community.
(11) "Manufactured home" means a factory-built, single-family dwelling:
a. Transportable in 1 or more sections, which is either 8 body feet or more in width and 40 body feet or more in length, or, when erected on site, has more than 400 square feet in living area; and
b. With or without a permanent foundation and designed to be used as a year-round dwelling when connected to the required utilities; and
c. If manufactured since June 15, 1976, built in accordance with manufactured home construction requirements promulgated by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or by other applicable codes. "Manufactured home" is synonymous with "mobile home", "trailer", and similar terms used elsewhere in this title.
(12) "Manufactured home community" means a parcel of land where 2 or more lots are rented or offered for rent for the placement of manufactured homes. Manufactured home community is synonymous with "mobile home park", "trailer park", and "trailer court".
(13) "Notice" means a written announcement, warning or other communication delivered to or served upon a person, as designated in statute.
(14) "Premises" means the rented lots in a manufactured home community, the structures upon them, and the facilities and appurtenances thereon, as well as the grounds, common areas and facilities held out for the use of the tenants and/or residents generally or whose use is contracted for between landlord and tenant.
(15) "Quiet enjoyment" includes the peaceful possession of the premises in a manufactured home community without unwarranted disturbance.
(16) "Recreational vehicle" means a travel trailer, camping trailer, park trailer, camper, camper motor home or similar accommodation which is primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreational camping or for seasonal or travel use and which either has its own motor power or is mounted on or drawn by another vehicle.
(17) "Rent" means money paid by a tenant to a landlord for the possession, use and enjoyment of a rented lot and other parts of the premises in a manufactured home community pursuant to a rental agreement. For purposes of summary possession, rent includes late fees for rent, other fees and charges, including utility charges, and the tenant's share of the Delaware Manufactured Home Relocation Trust Fund assessment.
(18) "Rental agreement" or "lease" means a written contract between a landlord and a tenant establishing the terms and conditions whereby a manufactured home is placed upon or is allowed to remain upon a rented or leased lot in a manufactured home community.
(19) "Resident" means a person who resides in a manufactured home located in a manufactured home community. A resident may or may not be a tenant.
(20) "Seasonal property" means a parcel of land operated as a vacation resort on which 2 or more lots are rented or offered for rent for the placement of manufactured homes or other dwellings used less than 8 months of the year. A seasonal property is characterized by a lack of availability of year-round utilities and by the fact that its tenants have primary residences elsewhere.
(21) "Tenant" or "home owner" means an owner of a manufactured home who has a tenancy of a lot in a manufactured home community; a lessee.
(22) "Trust Fund" means the Delaware Manufactured Home Relocation Trust Fund.
(23) "Utility charge" means a charge by a landlord or others to a tenant for a commodity such as water, sewer, electricity, fuel, propane, cable television or trash.
(24) "Utility service" means a service provided by a landlord or others to a tenant for a commodity such as water, sewer, electricity, fuel, propane, cable television or trash.
(25 Del. C. 1953, § 7003; 58 Del. Laws, c. 286; 58 Del. Laws, c. 472, § 4; 65 Del. Laws, c. 446, § 1; 66 Del. Laws, c. 268, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 35, § 2; 74 Del. Laws, c. 147, § 1.)