Landlords Beware of the Illegal Lockout

If you are a landlord, be careful when terminating a tenant’s lease or proceeding with an eviction. As a landlord, you can be penalized for changing the locks or shutting off the utilities to remove a tenant from your rental property.

If you wrongfully withhold or remove a tenant’s property from the premises, the tenant may have a claim against you for illegal conversion of property. Even if the actions of the tenant were egregious, you cannot take matters into your own hands. Although the eviction process in your state may take some time and be an added expense to your budget, you should follow the legal process from removing a tenant from your property.

If you are in need of landlord tenant forms, contact MyLegalEdge.com by calling us at 1-888-770-7198. You may also e-mail us at staff@mylegaledge.com.