Without My Permission

What is the name of your state? Louisiana

In July 2002, my husband and I signed a six year lease with option to buy. The owners/landlords asked us to pay half of the property taxes for 2002. We refused due to the fact it was not our house(we gained no tax benefits), nor was it mentioned in our lease. This past year (2003), we received a tax bill in the mail with both of our names on it(mine and my husband's). How did they put the taxes in our name without our permission? Is this legal, dont we have to sign something first? Does this mean that the house is in our name too?

Thanks for taking the time,

[nextwife]

If you have not exercised your option and are merely renting, send the tax bill to your landlord. They need to either pay the taxes or lose the property to a tax foreclosure. The party who is sent the tax bill is not necessarily the owner- it is the party the treasurer was notified should be mailed the tax bill, which is sometimes just a management company. Just forward that tax bill asap and add a note that this was somehow erroneously mailed to you!

[JETX]

You should also contact the taxing authority and let them know that you are not the owner, nor are you liable for the taxes. Be sure to give them the name and address of the 'real' owner.

[HomeGuru]

And have a real estate attorney review your lease option contract.