How Can Tenants Deal With Retaliatory Eviction Attempts?

When you rent an apartment, you should be able to make complaints or address problems with your landlord without fearing reprisal. A landlord who retaliates against their tenants is breaking the law. There are many different forms of retaliation, but one of the most common is retaliatory eviction. If you think that your landlord is trying to kick you out after you have made some kind of complaint or an attempt to hold them accountable, a New York City eviction defense lawyer from our firm wants to hear from you.

What is Retaliatory Eviction?

There are valid reasons for evicting a tenant. If someone does not pay rent or if someone violates their lease agreement by having a pet, a landlord can tell them that the situation needs to be rectified or they will be kicked out. What a landlord cannot do is evict someone just because they made them angry.

An eviction may be considered a retaliatory eviction if it comes right after the tenant brings up some kind of issue. If you told your landlord about a way that they have violated your lease or the warranty of habitability, they cannot turn around and punish you for forcing them to address the problem. It could also be considered a retaliatory eviction if you sued or joined a lawsuit against the landlord, or even if you just joined or organized a tenant union.

How Can I Respond to a Retaliatory Eviction?

It can be tough to prove that an eviction is a retaliatory eviction in some cases. It can help to document everything, including any communications with your landlord about the eviction. If you believe that you are being retaliated against, filing a report with Fair Housing NYC should be your next step. This is considered a form of discrimination.

Also keep in mind that a retaliatory eviction is not the only way that a landlord might try to get back at you for making a complaint or attempting to hold them accountable. You should also file a complaint if your landlord engages in other discriminatory behaviors like:

• Suddenly increasing the rent
• Withholding your security deposit
• Suddenly ending a month-to-month tenancy
• Refusing to carry out necessary repairs
• Refusing to renew a lease

Do I Need a Lawyer?

It can be tough to prove that the actions of your landlord are retaliatory. An experienced lawyer can help you build a more convincing case and make it clear that there is no other valid reason for your eviction.

Contact Our Firm Today

You should not have to deal with retaliatory eviction and other discriminatory behavior from your landlord. If you suspect that your landlord is trying to kick you out of your home for no good reason, contact Robert Rosenblatt & Associates. Schedule a consultation with our team and tell us more about your situation, and then we will find a way to help.