Some landlords and property managers attempt to get tenants out of an apartment without following legal eviction procedures. When landlords skirt the law in this way and take removal matters into their own hands, it's known as a self-help eviction.
Self-help evictions, while illegal, are fairly common. Here are two recent examples that have made headlines:
- Raritan Township, New Jersey: Following a tenant's nonpayment of one month's rent, his landlord allegedly prevented the tenant from entering his apartment by changing the locks. Police on June 9 charged the landlord with unlawful eviction, according to a staff report from MyCentralJersey.com.
- Galveston, Texas: A tenant on June 10 filed a lawsuit for $3,000 against her building's management company. She claims the company illegally changed the locks on her apartment and also removed much of her personal belongings, which led to her TV and DVD player getting stolen, according to a report in The Southeast Texas Record.
Has a landlord or manager ever tried to get you to leave your apartment without following legal procedures?
Related Articles:
- Don't Let Your Landlord Get Away With a Self-Help Eviction
- When to Negotiate Rent With a Landlord
- Get Results When You Need Something from Your Landlord
(Photo © Nancy R. Cohen / Getty Images)
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