Herrick v. FLORIDA DEPT. OF BUSINESS REG.

595 So. 2d 148, 1992 WL 26457
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
DecidedFebruary 19, 1992
Docket90-2057
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 595 So. 2d 148 (Herrick v. FLORIDA DEPT. OF BUSINESS REG.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court of Appeal of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Herrick v. FLORIDA DEPT. OF BUSINESS REG., 595 So. 2d 148, 1992 WL 26457 (Fla. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

595 So.2d 148 (1992)

Alfred HERRICK, d/b/a Tan Tara Mobile Home Park, Appellant,
v.
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS REGULATION, DIVISION OF FLORIDA LAND SALES, CONDOMINIUMS AND MOBILE HOMES, Appellee.

No. 90-2057.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.

February 19, 1992.

*149 David D. Eastman of Parker, Skelding, Labasky & Corry, Tallahassee, for appellant.

Susan C. Marvin, Asst. Gen. Counsel, Dept. of Business Regulation, Tallahassee, for appellee.

Thomas A. Munkittrick, for amicus curiae, Federation of Mobile Home Owners of Florida, Inc., Largo.

JOANOS, Chief Judge.

Alfred Herrick (Herrick), owner of Tan Tara Mobile Home Park, appeals a final administrative order issued by the Division of Florida Land Sales, Condominiums, and Mobile Homes (Division), finding Herrick in violation of section 723.031(5) and (6), Florida Statutes. Herrick alleges error in the Division's determination that he improperly charged tenants in Tan Tara Mobile Home Park for water, sewer, and waste disposal when such charges were not disclosed prior to occupancy. We affirm, the order as modified.

The essential facts in this case are undisputed, and indeed, Herrick has stipulated to the operative facts, i.e., that he increased charges collected from park tenants twice in one year, that he changed the manner in which he assessed park tenants for water, and that water, sewage, and garbage charges had not been collected on an individual basis in the past as a matter of custom. Thus, it is the legal effect of Herrick's conduct which is at issue in this case, rather than the conduct itself.

On May 5, 1989, the Division issued a notice to show cause against Herrick, charging that the park owner (1) violated section 723.031(5), Florida Statutes, by increasing the lot rental amount on January 1, 1987, and again on October 1, 1987; and (2) violated section 723.031(6), Florida Statutes, by collecting charges for water, sewage, and waste disposal, which charges were not disclosed prior to tenancy and had not been collected as a matter of custom between the park owner and at least one homeowner. Herrick petitioned for a formal hearing, and the matter was referred to the Division of Administrative Hearings, and heard on November 6, 1989.

Tan Tara Mobile Home Park is located in Melbourne; the owner's business and residence is in Ithaca, New York. There are eighty-four lots in the park; nineteen of these lots were leased after November 1, 1986. When Herrick bought the park in 1980, water and sewer charges were included as part of the rent. The former owner cautioned Herrick that water was being wasted in the park, and that he should include the water use in the rent. Initially, Herrick calculated water and sewer use to be added to the lot rental charge by dividing the total bill he received from the water company by the number of homes in the park. That charge came to $12.50 per home.

Pursuant to the 1984 enactment of Chapter 723, Herrick filed and received approval of a park prospectus on December 23, 1985. The prospectus constitutes the disclosure document provided to the tenants. The Tan Tara prospectus was delivered to all tenants living in the park, beginning in January 1986. Pertinent portions of the *150 Tan Tara prospectus pertaining to charges which may be included in the lot rental fee provide:

VII. UTILITY AND OTHER SERVICES
Water — Treated drinking water is provided by the City of Melbourne Utilities and is provided to each mobile home site. The charge for this service is currently included in the tenants' total monthly rental fee... . .
Sewage — Sewage disposal is provided by the City of Melbourne Utilities. The charge for this service is included in the tenants' monthly rental fee... ..
Waste and trash disposal — The collection of garbage and trash is provided by the City of Melbourne Utilities and is provided for each mobile home. The charge for this service is currently included in the tenants' total monthly rental fee.
VIII. RENT, RENTAL INCREASES AND OTHER CHARGES
The base rent and other charges applicable to your lot are effective January 1, 1985, as reflected in this section. The "base rent" refers to the regular monthly rent established by the Park Owner from time to time. The base rent is subject to annual rent increases effective each January 1st, after ninety (90) days notice from the Park Owner or Management of such increase.
"Other charges" refers to "special use fees" and "pass through charges".
SPECIAL USE FEES refers to those separately itemized amounts charged in addition to the base rent for those specific items hereinafter set forth. The following special use fees are in effect within the park:
a) Owner reserves the right to charge an Entrance or "Move-in" fee. The present amount charged for this fee in the Park is $1,000.00.
.....
h) An additional charge of $5.00 per month for a Tenant's washing machine due to the extra water usage caused by the washing machine and also sewerage charges.
.....
PASS THROUGH CHARGES, means those amounts other than special use fees, which are itemized and can be charged separately from the base rent and which represents the mobile home owner's share of cost charged to the Park Owner by any State or local government or utility company. These charges will be passed on to the Tenant(s) on a pro rata basis. ("Pro rata basis" means that percentage derived by dividing the number of mobile home spaces leased by a resident by the total number of occupied mobile home spaces in the park.) The pass through charges which may be passed on to the Tenant(s) are as follows:
A. Water charges or increases in same;
B. Sewer charges or increases in same;
.....
D. Waste disposal charges or increases in same;
.....
I. Replacement utility costs charged to the Park Owner by State or local government incurred as the result of the actions of any utility company for any utility or other services not provided or available to park residents on the delivery date that replaces, in whole or in part, any utility or other service that is provided or is available to park residents on the delivery date.
The above-mentioned pass through charges and costs which are billed by either the State or local governmental entities or utility companies may be passed through to the Tenants after providing at least ninety (90) days advanced written notice to all Tenants. The amount of an increase in pass through charges shall be limited to the increased costs or charges billed to the park owner by the State or local governmental agency or utility company plus any maintenance and administrative costs related to same as is permitted by § 723.045, Florida Statutes... ..

*151 On September 2, 1986, all residents of the park were notified that the base rent would increase effective January 1, 1987.

Based on advice and recommendation from the City that water usage in the park was "way above average," Herrick had individual water meters installed during June through August 1987.

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Related

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Bluebook (online)
595 So. 2d 148, 1992 WL 26457, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/herrick-v-florida-dept-of-business-reg-fladistctapp-1992.