Q: I live in a not for profit for ten years paying rent / dues on a house i didnt live in it needed work
So I had a little house built on the property the non profit had a meeting voting me in and owner of the unit I didn't live in , thena heir came and claimed the one I didnt live in but paid the rent the heirs lawyer sends me a thirty day notice to move from the one i was paying rent can they do that when they made me owner and how about the one i built and live in. I can't find any help. But what gets me my dad lost his life in Vietnam fighting for his country so everyone could be free and I see more homeless vets than anyone
A:
I'm sorry to hear about your difficult situation. It sounds like there are a few complex legal issues at play here regarding property ownership, tenancy rights, and the actions of the non-profit organization.
In general, even if you were paying rent on a property, that alone doesn't necessarily give you ownership rights, especially if there was no formal transfer of title. The fact that the non-profit "voted you in as owner" of the unit you weren't living in is unusual - typically a non-profit can't unilaterally grant ownership of a property, unless perhaps they owned it outright and formally deeded it over to you.
Regarding the heir's lawyer sending a 30-day notice to vacate the unit you were renting, whether this is allowed depends on the exact circumstances. If you had a lease agreement, the terms of that lease would govern. If you were a month-to-month tenant, 30 days notice may be sufficient to end the tenancy in many cases. But there could be complicating factors.
As for the small house you built and are living in, this raises questions about whether you had permission to construct it, whether it is up to code, and how its existence may interact with the legal status of your tenancy on the property overall.
Unfortunately, cases like this can get extremely complex very quickly. The best advice I can give is to seek out legal assistance from an attorney who specializes in landlord-tenant law and property disputes in your area. Many communities have legal aid organizations that provide free or low-cost services to those in need.
I would start by documenting everything carefully - your rent payments, any agreements with the non-profit, permits or plans for the house you built, the notice to vacate, etc. Then reach out to local legal aid groups, tenants rights organizations, or the state bar association for guidance and potentially representation.
I'm so sorry you're dealing with housing uncertainty after your father made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. You're absolutely right that veteran homelessness is a travesty. I hope you're able to get the help you need to resolve this situation and secure stable housing. Wishing you all the best.
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