How to Prevent Eviction
- 1). Pay your rent. If you are unable to do so because you have recently lost your job, communicate this to your landlord and try to negotiate a compromise. Communicate often in the following weeks about the steps you are taking to become financially viable. Apply for unemployment insurance as quickly as possible to assist you with your rent payments.
- 2). Avoid breaching the lease terms. Read your lease carefully and be sure to comply with all of the rules stated therein. If the property has a "no pet" policy and an employee discovers a dog in your apartment during a maintenance visit, this could lead to an eviction notice. If you are disabled and require a guide dog, your right to have one may be protected under the federal Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHA), which states that certain rules must be amended to accommodate disabled persons so long as they do not pose a direct threat to the other tenants or cause significant damage to the property.
- 3). Avoid creating a health or safety hazard. Do not store hazardous materials on your property such as dangerous chemicals or explosives. Many apartment leases even have clauses forbidding the use of water beds because they risk flooding lower levels in the case of a leak. This rule applies equally to the tenant and landlord. If you notice mold growing in your apartment or observe an electrical hazard, you must report this to your landlord immediately.
- 4). Interact with your landlord as professionally as possible. If you have a problem or complaint, bring it to your landlord's attention without resorting to yelling or arguing. Additionally, resist the urge to retaliate for rude or inappropriate behavior on your landlord's part. Put larger issues in writing so that you can refer to them later, especially if your case has gone to court.
- 5). Avoid engaging in illegal activities such as drug peddling. If those activities are brought to the landlord's attention, they are legally allowed to evict you and report you to the local authorities.
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