By Helen Lesel:
Landlords or property managers are not allowed to take the law into their own hands. Known as "self-help" evictions, actions such as changing the locks are illegal for a landlord or their agents to do unless a formal court eviction has been granted.
Other items on the no-can-do list include:
Turning off the utilities – removing tenant belongings – threatening harm to the tenant or his property – removing doors, windows, gates of other part of the property that provide safety – locking tenants out – harassing tenants or guests, including spying, calling or sending inappropriate correspondence.
Most states have outlawed self-help evictions initiated by landlords and have added penalties for shock value.
The bottom line? Don't delay working out the situation. Try speaking to the landlord and working out a solution.
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