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If a landlord wrongfully evicts a tenant, the tenant can sue for compensation. Checking local laws is the first step. Landlords must follow strict legal procedures, and using scare tactics or cutting off utilities can contribute to a wrongful eviction case. Tenants can sue for double or triple damages, and may not need a lawyer but it can be helpful due to complex laws.
To handle a wrongful eviction often the tenant has to sue his landlord in court. If you believe you’ve been wrongfully evicted, your first step may be to check the laws in your area to determine if your landlord has followed legal eviction procedures. If not, you may decide to take him to court to sue him for monetary compensation. In some jurisdictions, you may be able to sue for damages caused by the landlord twice or even three times.
The first step you might take in dealing with wrongful eviction is to check the landlord-tenant laws in your jurisdiction. In many jurisdictions, landlords are required to follow strict legal procedures in evicting tenants. For example, they are often required to provide a particular amount of notice before filing an eviction case with the court system. Once this has been filed, landlords usually have to attend a court hearing and wait for a judge to rule in their favor. If these steps are required in your jurisdiction and your landlord hasn’t taken them, you could have a wrongful eviction case.
In addition to failing to provide proper written notice and following the procedures required by law in your jurisdiction, there are other behaviors that can contribute to a wrongful eviction case. For example, if your landlord used scare tactics to evict you, this could be considered a wrongful eviction. Intimidation tactics include actions or threats that made you fear for your safety. Likewise, your landlord may have broken the law if he cut off your utilities or locked you out of the rental property without a court order. Also, your landlord may have acted against landlord tenant laws if he physically removed you or your property from the lease.
Once you’ve checked the laws and determined that your landlord has broken the landlord-tenant laws, you may decide to take him to court. Many court systems allow you to sue not only for an amount that covers the problems caused by your landlord, but also for double the amount of damages. Some court systems will even allow you to sue for damages three times. If you decide to sue, your landlord may have few defenses available to him. For example, most courts won’t rule in his favor, even if you haven’t paid your rent or have violated your lease.
In most jurisdictions, you can pursue a wrongful eviction case without the help of a lawyer. In that case, you will have to represent yourself in court. However, because landlord-tenant laws can be complex, you may feel more confident about winning your case if you have the help of an attorney.
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