Being Sued Under Municipal Claims and Tax Lien Law, 53 P.S. § 7101

**bob8989** · 03-11-2012, 03:00 PM

Hello, my legal issue is in the state of PA county of Allegheny.
I was sent a letter via certified mail I will be sued within 30 days by a law firm on behalf of my local school district. If I don't pay back property taxes of two past owners of my manufactured home for years 2009 and 2010 they will sue. The letter states if I don't pay I will be sued and a lien placed on my home and I will have to pay attorneys fees and court costs. The letter also states I can be liable for taxes going back many more years and paying these taxes off does not guarantee they will not sue me or send me a bill for attorney fees.

I have been the owner of said property since 2011. The post owner committed fraud by not telling me the property had unpaid taxes as well as other undisclosed structural issues.

**Mr. Knowitall** · 03-11-2012, 04:39 PM

So you're talking about the purchase of a manufactured home and the lot it sits on? Why didn't you do your due diligence to make sure that taxes were current when you closed? I have no access to your purchase contract, so it would help if you would tell us what it says about property taxes and who is responsible for them. Depending on what your contract says you may be able to pursue the seller for taxes (you've shared no information on the structural issue so we're not in a position to speculate).

**bob8989** · 03-11-2012, 05:49 PM

I don't own the land only the building. I make rent payments for the lot. The seller reassured me the taxes were paid multiple times. He even verbally agreed to pay any tax bill if any were unpaid. There is no contract for a sale on a home like this.

The seller told me pipes had busted a year earlier and were welded and repaired later it was discovered his idea of welding wasn't solder and a blowtorch but garden hoses with clamps on them. The bedroom were the seller had a kingsize bed was over a rotten floor. After he had vacated the floor collapsed I had to lay a whole new overfloor of plywood sheets cut and screwed into place. He never disclosed these issues.

Under this law am I obligated to pay his tax bills? What if I just forfeit it and send them the title of ownership? What options exist in this situation?