Can A Landlord Evict Me Without Notice?

Any renter who has had a difficult landlord understands how frustrating it can be, with common problems often growing into much larger situations. Ultimately, a tenant might want to know: "Can a landlord evict me without notice?"

While a renter does have rights that can prevent a landlord from taking unlawful action, knowing local and state laws is critical to enjoying the full protection of the law as a renter. And whenever you need eviction assistance, DoNotPay is there to help you with the entire process.

When Can a Landlord Evict without Notice?

The system is set up to make it very difficult for a landlord to evict a tenant without notice. Even if a tenant is not following the lease requirements, a landlord still has to follow guidelines and give you written notice of a potential eviction in most scenarios. Consider these questions if you're worried about being evicted without notice:

• Do you have a written lease?
• Is there criminal activity in the rental unit?
• Do you qualify for an eviction moratorium?
• Are there blatant violations of the lease?

In addition to written notification of a potential eviction, a tenant will usually get an opportunity to address the complaint and make changes to the living circumstances. Most states also have rules that give a tenant a time in which they are expected to vacate the property; typically, this is between 30 and 60 days.

Things can get tricky for tenants who don’t have a written lease, but are relying upon an oral agreement, often called a tenancy-at-will agreement. In this scenario, a tenant will not have the same level of protection, which is why it's always critical to have a written lease agreed upon with the landlord.

Can a Landlord Change my Locks or Shut Off Utilities?

Probably not. In cases of significant criminality at the unit, or blatant violations of a lease, a landlord could attempt to sue you and receive a court order to have you evicted. Even in this situation, however, you will have an opportunity to appear before a judge to make your case.

Only if you fail to appear in court could a landlord legally do something drastic like change locks or shut off utilities, which is explicitly illegal in nearly every circumstance.

What You Can Do if You've Received an Eviction Notice

If you've received an eviction notice, consider these steps:

1. Carefully read the lease
2. Rectify any living circumstances in violation of the lease
3. Send written notification to the landlord of a resolved violation
4. Put in writing any violations or suspicious behavior by the landlord
5. Determine whether you apply for an economic hardship exemption
6. Research law firms that specialize in evictions
7. Hire a lawyer

If there is a cut-and-dry lease violation, the best thing you can do is quickly resolve this issue, document it, and send it to your landlord. In some cases, proving you resolved the lease violation will be enough to stop an eviction.

It's also a good idea to have (in writing) a list of any questionable activity by the landlord. If you have documented activity by the landlord that violates a local or state law, it will become more difficult for the landlord to follow through on eviction.

But also remember that escalating the situation will rarely help you. Even if a landlord is acting erratically, calmly pressing your case and getting your ducks in a row will benefit you in case you end up having to appear in court.

Take Action Against a Landlord Easily with DoNotPay

Instead of doing it all yourself or hiring an expensive local lawyer, DoNotPay can help you solve your eviction and/or landlord issue with a few easy steps:

1. Search for and open the Landlord Protection product on DoNotPay.

2. Select which issue applies to you.

3. Answer a simple set of questions so our chatbot can collect the necessary information to create your demand letter.

4. Choose whether you want DoNotPay to send the demand letter to your landlord or roommate on your behalf. If you already tried sending a demand letter and it didn't work, we can help you start the small claims court process.

That's all it takes to protect your rights as a tenant. In addition to fighting back against eviction notifications and aggressive landlords, DoNotPay can also assist with removing troublesome roommates.

The Benefits of Using DoNotPay for Landlord Issues

Figuring out the eviction process can be difficult even for long time renters, which is why the simplicity of DoNotPay is also an opportunity for you to regain control of the situation. While a difficult landlord can make a tenant feel like they're in an impossible position, DoNotPay immediately gives you the tools to stand up for your rights without needing to know everything about renting laws.

DoNotPay is also a way to guarantee you're making the best possible case for your specific circumstances. The landlord protection product will guide you through the process and give you the confidence that you are doing everything that can be done to avoid eviction and push back against your landlord.

Other DoNotPay Services that Help Renters with Landlord Disputes

The landlord services DoNotPay provides go well beyond basic eviction resolutions. Some of the other services DoNotPay provides include:

Beyond Landlord Protection: Other Ways DoNotPay Can Help

DoNotPay is designed to help tenants assert their rights and hold landlords accountable, which are the principles behind an assortment of other consumer-oriented services.

Here are some services DoNotPay offers:

• Small claims court
• Appeal a banned account
• Find missing money
• Credit card limit increase
• Request small business loan
• Notarize any document
• And many more

No matter where you go, DoNotPay is there to help you quickly solve those nagging and time-consuming problems. Try it today!