Any legal folks out there might have input to this. Full time RVer renting space in Fla. park for 6 months, then six months almost up and renewal lease is sent around to both rigs and park models with terminology indicating that owner of park can inspect, enter, et cetera "premises" at any time...says it's just the outside lot area, however this has been a problem for people in years past I'm told, and I wonder if "Premises" can also mean inside one's personal domicile, and several folks are worried as this owner is a bit, well, let's say "control freak". Does an ambiguously worded "owner can enter your premises at any time" carry the problem of it being used to "inspect" some elderly couple's rig or park model? Reading Fl. rental statutes doesn't help a lot because it doesn't appear to cover the motorcoach crowd. Does the Fourth Amendment cover the inside of their domicile unless there is probable cause or a warrant? I'm not talking about the criminal crowd here, but just ordinary retired folks who come down for 6 months for the warmth, in nice coaches, and their little pets, who pay their rent and electric on time. What protects us from overly intrusive misuse of authority? And this isn't meant to be a hot topic for radicals on the forum, but just a question of what is allowable and a lease that might waive certain rights.Thanks for any input. Scotties on Wheels

Illegal search and seizures apply to law enforcement. There can be situations that arise where management of a park would have the need to make emergency entry into an RV. The other reasons for them to enter a person's rig for an unscheduled inspection would be to confirm a suspected rules violation or to mitigate a problem like an alarm sounding continuously. Over the last 10+ years I can remember about 3 instances where I have had to enter a rig without prior permission. It doesn't happen often. If the reputation of the park is such that you have concerns, I would stay elsewhere, it is much easier than relying on contracts and laws.

Property owner does not have to abide by your fourth amendment rights. Only the government needs to abide by that right. Premises means your coach.Thomas law dictionarypremisesn. 1) in real estate, land and the improvements on it, a building.If you agree to it then he can enter at any time.

That's the problem with 'long term'...over 30 daysYou fall under tenant/landlord laws of the state.I would have a very difficult time with it.I am 'leasing'/'renting' site and own the rig so landlord had best stay out of my rig. They do not have a key so they would have to 'break & enter' As Judge Judy says "You signed it...if you don't like it, don't sign it"So clarify the 'premises' by making a notation on it "Premises means site...not inside my rig" and see how owner reacts.If owner has a problem with that.....your choice ie: sign away your ownership OR move.

Old-Biscuit wrote:That's the problem with 'long term'...over 30 daysYou fall under tenant/landlord laws of the state.I would have a very difficult time with it.I am 'leasing'/'renting' site and own the rig so landlord had best stay out of my rig. They do not have a key so they would have to 'break & enter' As Judge Judy says "You signed it...if you don't like it, don't sign it"So clarify the 'premises' by making a notation on it "Premises means site...not inside my rig" and see how owner reacts.If owner has a problem with that.....your choice ie: sign away your ownership OR move.I agree, with putting a notation saying my camper is off limits...better for everyone that way

I have a seasonal site and leave a key with the owner. I have asked him to check on something or to get a measurement since I'm 900 miles away. I trust him implicitly.

6 month contracts seasonal waives the Fourth?

Skid_Row_Joe
Explorer
Oct 26, 2013
JJBIRISH wrote:
I can only say in the state of Florida there have been hundreds and most likely thousands of abuses from bad to illegal contracts made and written by attorneys with the full intent to scam people… it was quite common in the timeshare industry, both condominium and campground timeshares but included land fraud sales to, primarily by out of state advertising and deals… where do you think the well-known term I have some swamp land I’ll sell you was coined…

Many of the current laws were brought about by these scam operations, but the swamp land fraud deals still continue today… the scams are not much different than those employed by snake oil salesmen in the 19th century and Florida swamp-land salesmen in the60s and 70s... Unsuspecting people are deceived over and again with the same schemes… to many failing to realize that scammers are extremely creative, and are often difficult to recognize as they constantly alter their disguises…

Honest businessmen may spend thousands for honest contracts… but all contracts are not written that way believe me…

Many of FL CGs have written their contracts on the fly, I know I have seen them do it and almost no two are alike… they are intentionally ambiguous and often violated but too often they are not pursued or maybe even worth pursuing.. pursuing any disputes would certainly require a court’s decision and that decision wouldn’t be binding on the next dispute…

While there are some honest businesses out there, There is also a lot of ugliness around to…
And I am not indicating that is the case for the OP…
JJBIRISH,
I too suspect that Florida has any number of unscrupulous landlord, campground, and RV park unlawful contracts being agreed to by the unsuspecting renters. As was expressed earlier, a few calls to the DA's office in that city. county or state will clear a lot up as far as renters rights go. You cannot sign your rights away by signing anything unlawful that cannot be legally enforced. Good Luck.
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Oct 17, 2013
OP this is real simple. Just ask the owner what the contract means to him.

If he says it means he can come into your trailer anytime he wants and if that is unacceptable to you then say "c ya."

If he says it does not mean that, then you are good to go.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Oct 17, 2013
westernrvparkowner wrote:
Dog Folks wrote:
westernrvparkowner wrote:
There can be situations that arise where management of a park would have the need to make emergency entry into an RV. The other reasons for them to enter a person's rig for an unscheduled inspection would be to confirm a suspected rules violation or to mitigate a problem like an alarm sounding continuously.

You would enter my camper without permission to "confirm a suspected rules violation?" For what? To make sure I was picking up my dog's poop?

Entering to check a rules violation would happen only ONCE, and depending on the circumstances, such as late at night or unannounced, I could not guarantee your personal well being.

You may own the land, but you are entering my home.
Since you want to stay with the dog theme, something along the lines of we do not allow dangerous dogs and there had been complaints the RV owner had a wolf hybrid that was threatening other guests. We might respond to those complaints by confirming that information and that might involve looking into the RV should the owner be attempting to hide the animal. Or, there might be reason to suspect you are storing gallons of dangerous chemicals used to operate your Meth lab. I really doubt that the need to enter an RV to search for a rules violation would ever occur under real world circumstances, but I never really believe I will win the Powerball, but I still buy tickets and rental clauses exist for those statistically improbable events.

I'm O.K. with looking in. "Plain view doctrine" in Law enforcement. Entering is entirely different matter.
colliehauler
Explorer III
Oct 17, 2013
Dog Folks wrote:
Here is one of many links that appeared with a Goggle Search:

Clicky
Thanks for the link Dog Folks.
westernrvparkow
Explorer
Oct 17, 2013
Dog Folks wrote:
westernrvparkowner wrote:
There can be situations that arise where management of a park would have the need to make emergency entry into an RV. The other reasons for them to enter a person's rig for an unscheduled inspection would be to confirm a suspected rules violation or to mitigate a problem like an alarm sounding continuously.

You would enter my camper without permission to "confirm a suspected rules violation?" For what? To make sure I was picking up my dog's poop?

Entering to check a rules violation would happen only ONCE, and depending on the circumstances, such as late at night or unannounced, I could not guarantee your personal well being.

You may own the land, but you are entering my home.
Since you want to stay with the dog theme, something along the lines of we do not allow dangerous dogs and there had been complaints the RV owner had a wolf hybrid that was threatening other guests. We might respond to those complaints by confirming that information and that might involve looking into the RV should the owner be attempting to hide the animal. Or, there might be reason to suspect you are storing gallons of dangerous chemicals used to operate your Meth lab. I really doubt that the need to enter an RV to search for a rules violation would ever occur under real world circumstances, but I never really believe I will win the Powerball, but I still buy tickets and rental clauses exist for those statistically improbable events.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Oct 17, 2013
westernrvparkowner wrote:
There can be situations that arise where management of a park would have the need to make emergency entry into an RV. The other reasons for them to enter a person's rig for an unscheduled inspection would be to confirm a suspected rules violation or to mitigate a problem like an alarm sounding continuously.

You would enter my camper without permission to "confirm a suspected rules violation?" For what? To make sure I was picking up my dog's poop?

Entering to check a rules violation would happen only ONCE, and depending on the circumstances, such as late at night or unannounced, I could not guarantee your personal well being.

You may own the land, but you are entering my home.
westernrvparkow
Explorer
Oct 17, 2013
I am still wayne_tw wrote:
westernrvparkowner wrote:
There can be situations that arise where management of a park would have the need to make emergency entry into an RV. The other reasons for them to enter a person's rig for an unscheduled inspection would be to confirm a suspected rules violation or to mitigate a problem like an alarm sounding continuously.

State laws, which would be applicable here, vary. However, generally, if you are just renting just the lot but not the RV, then the owner can enter onto the lot but not enter into the RV itself. I cannot think of any occasion when a RV park owner could routinely enter into another person's RV unless the RV owner gave him permission to do so.

"Westernrvparkowner" may have entered someone's RV to mitigate a noise disturbance, or other such annoyance, but I will assert that entry was illegal unless he was given permission. In most states, entry would be allowed to stop imminent severe property damage, such as a fire, or when life or limb is at risk.
Thank you for proving why an entry clause is necessary in a long term contract. If someone's alarm is sounding, or some timer went off and their television or stereo is blaring (this is one that happened to me. The stereo and outside speakers came on at full volume about midnight and I did enter the rig after repeated attempts to contact the owner), and the owner is no where to be found is a situation that needs attention for the benefit of everyone who is in the park. It probably doesn't rise to the level of an emergency. But it surely rises above the level of requiring a multi-hour or multi-day written notice that could not be delivered in any event. Since you are probably not alone in believing that entry under such conditions could be illegal, the entry clause would short circuit most legal action from the RV owner should they feel the problems should have been left unattended.
Long-term guests are much more likely to be unavailable for contact. the short term stays are usually nearby. The long term people not so much. You would think that common sense would rule, but it is not common and many people are not sensible, hence bloated contracts.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Oct 17, 2013
Here is one of many links that appeared with a Goggle Search:

Clicky
colliehauler
Explorer III
Oct 17, 2013
Skid Row Joe wrote:
colliehauler wrote:
What if the shoe was on the other foot and you were going to rent your RV? Would you want a contract to protect you? I seen on the news that a woman stayed in a motel for 9.5 years before being evicted and owed 29,000 dollar bill.
Would you please provide a link to that story? It sounds like pure bravo sierra to me.
Look on CNN news for the story. I had to google it. Look for Jana Ganjian Marriott Racine WI. I tried to send you a private message but you don't accept them.
I_am_still_wayn
Explorer
Oct 16, 2013
westernrvparkowner wrote:
There can be situations that arise where management of a park would have the need to make emergency entry into an RV. The other reasons for them to enter a person's rig for an unscheduled inspection would be to confirm a suspected rules violation or to mitigate a problem like an alarm sounding continuously.

State laws, which would be applicable here, vary. However, generally, if you are just renting just the lot but not the RV, then the owner can enter onto the lot but not enter into the RV itself. I cannot think of any occasion when a RV park owner could routinely enter into another person's RV unless the RV owner gave him permission to do so.

"Westernrvparkowner" may have entered someone's RV to mitigate a noise disturbance, or other such annoyance, but I will assert that entry was illegal unless he was given permission. In most states, entry would be allowed to stop imminent severe property damage, such as a fire, or when life or limb is at risk.