Tenant Evictions

When you need to evict a tenant, please call us for a free consultation.
Here’s a list of some of most common legal mistakes that landlords make, and tips on how to avoid falling into these traps yourself.

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits a landlord from refusing to rent property to a tenant for discriminatory reasons like race, color, religion, national origin, sex or gender, disability, and familial status. Landlords should avoid questions that may appear discriminatory or suggest a discriminatory intent.

Every state has different requirements, but common disclosures include the following: notice of mold when the landlord knows/ has reason to believe that it exists, information about a state’s sexual offender registry, notice of sex offenders that live in the area if the landlord has actual knowledge, and disclosure of recent deaths that occurred in the rental unit. Federal law requires that a landlord disclose whether the rental unit contains lead-based paint if the property was built before 1978.

A residential lease agreement shouldn’t contain provisions that violate state and/or federal laws. A landlord should avoid the legal mistake of placing discriminatory conditions in a rental agreement, or those that require the tenant to waive the right to a refund of a security deposit or the right to sue the landlord. An illegal provision may result in landlord liability for monetary damages.

In many states, landlords are legally responsible for the failure to keep tenants safe from dangerous conditions on a property or safe from criminal activity. A landlord has a duty to make inspections and inform tenants and others that legally enter the property of hazards that exist on the premises. A landlord must take reasonable measures to ensure the safety of tenants from other tenants and from criminals that enter the property. If a tenant sustains physical or property damage after a landlord becomes aware that the property is unsafe, an injured tenant may be able to sue and recover compensation from the landlord.

A rental agreement should specify who has the duty to make repairs. A landlord must make some repairs even if a rental agreement doesn’t specify these duties. Every state imposes an “implied warranty of habitability” on all rental premises. A habitable rental unit will provide heating, plumbing, gas, clean water, a structurally safe roof and flooring, and electricity. If a property remains in disrepair, a tenant may choose to fix the problem and deduct the cost from the rent, move out, or report the violation to a state building inspector. The failure to make these major repairs when requested can result in a lawsuit against the landlord.

A tenant has a right to privacy. A landlord shouldn’t enter a tenant’s rental unit without first giving a 24-hour written or verbal notice. A landlord can enter after giving notice when showing the unit to a prospective tenant, making a repair, or inspecting the property. It is unnecessary to provide notice when an emergency occurs.

A landlord can evict a tenant for the nonpayment of rent, for the failure to vacate the premises after a lease agreement has expired, for a violation of a provision in the rental contract, or if the tenant causes damage to the property and it results in a substantial decrease in the value of the property. Before throwing out a tenant, a landlord must use the eviction process. Every state has different guidelines, but most require giving the tenant a termination notice before filing an eviction lawsuit. If the landlord attempts to remove the tenant without a court order, the tenant may recover damages for the landlord’s actions.

Most lease agreements require a tenant to pay a security deposit to cover damage caused by the tenant or for a tenant’s default. After a tenant moves out, a landlord can use the security deposit to fix damage caused by the tenant. A landlord, however, must provide the tenant with an itemized list of deductions and must pay the balance of the deposit to the tenant. The failure of a landlord to provide an itemized statement or the failure to return the unused portion of the security deposit can result in the landlord owing the tenant for monetary damages.

When a tenant leaves items behind after vacating the property, the landlord must treat it as abandoned property. The landlord must notify the tenant of how to claim the property, the cost for storage, where to claim the property, and how long the tenant has to claim the items. If the property remains unclaimed and it is worth more than a certain amount, the landlord may sell the property at a public sale after publishing a notice of sale in a local newspaper. If the property is worth less than the state-specified amount, the landlord can either keep the property or throw it away.

Besides insuring a property for destruction caused by natural disasters, a landlord should insure a property against lawsuits brought by a tenant. If a landlord illegally evicts a tenant, makes an illegal entry, or if a tenant or a person legally on the premises is injured because of a dangerous condition, insurance will cover the cost of litigation and will pay the damage award.

Tenant Eviction Lawyer Free Consultation

When you need legal help with an eviction, please call Ascent Law for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.

Michael Anderson

People who want a lot of Bull go to a Butcher. People who want results navigating a complex legal field go to a Lawyer that they can trust. That’s where I come in. I am Michael Anderson, an Attorney in the Salt Lake area focusing on the needs of the Average Joe wanting a better life for him and his family. I’m the Lawyer you can trust. I grew up in Utah and love it here. I am a Father to three, a Husband to one, and an Entrepreneur. I understand the feelings of joy each of those roles bring, and I understand the feeling of disappointment, fear, and regret when things go wrong. I attended the University of Utah where I received a B.A. degree in 2010 and a J.D. in 2014. I have focused my practice in Wills, Trusts, Real Estate, and Business Law. I love the thrill of helping clients secure their future, leaving a real legacy to their children. Unfortunately when problems arise with families. I also practice Family Law, with a focus on keeping relationships between the soon to be Ex’s civil for the benefit of their children and allowing both to walk away quickly with their heads held high. Before you worry too much about losing everything that you have worked for, before you permit yourself to be bullied by your soon to be ex, before you shed one more tear in silence, call me. I’m the Lawyer you can trust.

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