What’s an illegal eviction?

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An illegal eviction is an eviction that is not in accordance with local eviction law. Laws on eviction proceedings vary between jurisdictions and it is advisable that landlords and tenants familiarize themselves with regional laws by contacting a real estate agency or lawyer. If a tenant is illegally evicted, the tenant can file a wrongful eviction lawsuit and seek damages from the landlord to compensate for the expenses associated with the illegal eviction.

While the law varies, generally, to evict a tenant, the tenant must have violated the lease by not paying rent or by failing to meet one of the terms, such as a limit on the number of people living in the residence. The landlord must provide documentation of the violation and a clear written warning, given with sufficient time for the tenant to respond to the warning. If the tenant fails to comply with the warning, the landlord can obtain a court order for an eviction ordering the tenant to leave, and law enforcement agencies may be asked to assist in the removal of the tenant.

There are a number of stages in the eviction process where the possibility of an illegal eviction can arise. Landlords cannot impose evictions on tenants if they have not violated the lease or if the violation has been remedied promptly after the written warning is issued. If a tenant can prove that a landlord discriminated against in eviction proceedings, that too can be grounds for legal recourse.

In cases where tenants have documented a health or safety problem with a property and have refused to pay rent until it has been repaired or have paid themselves to have it repaired and have deducted the charges from the rent owed, the landlord cannot retaliate with an illegal eviction. Tenants should take care to document such issues and show how they are an urgent concern, but if the landlord does not respond after receiving documentation and a request to resolve the issue, tenants have the right to take steps to address the issue without fear. of retaliation.

Failure to issue a written warning or failure to provide the correct information in a warning can be grounds for an illegal eviction suit, as can acting before the time stated in the warning. In some jurisdictions, landlords must obtain a court order to evict a tenant and cannot personally evict tenants or seek help from law enforcement without a court order.

When eviction proceedings are initiated, both parties should keep clear records of the proceedings. This information will be important in case the case goes to court. Using written communications or recording phone calls will help tenants document their response to an eviction, while landlords who keep clear records of all communications from tenants can use these logs in court if an eviction is contested.

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