how to find a lawyer to prevent from being evicted when you're disabled.

by Marlene Schumm 8 min read

The short answer is that your disabled child will not stand as a bar to your eviction from the home. It is always advisable to contact an attorney. For a consultation, please contact my office at 516-669-3295.

Full Answer

Where can I get a lawyer to help with eviction?

Relief organizations are local and you can search for a tenant’s organization in your area here. These groups can help connect you to a lawyer or another nonprofit legal group, Weaver says. Legal Services is an independent non-profit created by the federal government that helps low-income households with civil issues like eviction.

Can a person with a disability be evicted from a house?

They cannot be evicted based based on their disabilities or actions that result from the disabilities.Disabled tenants can refuse to show landlords medical records or answer questions about their disability before completing a rental agreement.

What should I do if I got evicted and have nowhere to go?

I Got Evicted and Have Nowhere to Go! Staying Safe Is the First Priority Dealing with an eviction can be an extremely stressful situation for anyone. If you’re leaving your apartment and you have nowhere to go, your first priority should always be the safety of yourself, your family, and any pets.

Can a lawyer defend a renter in an eviction case?

The renter must also be faced with a civil issue. If the eviction is caused by a criminal act, then an attorney will not defend that tenant or they will not give a consultation.

Can a landlord evict a disabled person in Texas?

Under the federal Fair Housing Act and the Texas Fair Housing Act, a tenant cannot be discriminated against for race, religion, gender, national origin, familial status (including children under the age of 18 and pregnant women), and disability. A landlord cannot evict a tenant based on any of these characteristics.

Can a disabled person be evicted in California?

Eviction of Disabled Persons in California That is, a disabled person can be evicted in California for failing to pay rent, for breaching his rental agreement and for any other valid eviction grounds. This includes creating a nuisance, damaging the premises and conducting illegal activities on the premises.

Can a landlord evict a disabled person in Georgia?

Disability. In general, a landlord cannot evict a person because they have a disability unless the disability is causing additional problems for the landlord or other tenants.

Can a disabled person be evicted in MA?

If you are in Housing Court and you or someone in your household is disabled, ask the clerk where the Tenancy Preservation Program is. The Tenancy Preservation Program works with tenants facing eviction that is related to a disability. Disabilities include mental health, substance abuse, and age-related disabilities.

How do you fight an eviction?

Take ActionFind legal representation or advice. It is important that you seek legal advice or representation immediately. ... Go to the advice assembly. ... Go to court on the date of your hearing. ... Request a postponement to find legal representation. ... Oppose your eviction in court.

How do I fight an eviction in California?

If you want to fight an eviction in California, you must file a written response to the complaint within 5 days. You do have rights as a tenant, and there may be defenses available to you. Build your case, maybe even with the help of an attorney, and have your day in court.

What rights do disabled persons have in the US?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in several areas, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications and access to state and local government' programs and services.

How do I appeal an eviction in Georgia?

Appeal the Eviction A tenant has seven days from the judge's order, usually the date of the hearing, to file an appeal. A tenant should file an appeal with the Magistrate Court. The case is then sent to state or Superior Court. A tenant must pay a filing fee for the appeal.

How do you write a reasonable accommodation letter for housing?

Dear [So-and-So], I am writing to request a reasonable accommodation as a person with disabilities. I am requesting this accommodation so that I will have equal opportunity to participate in your housing.

What is disabled HUD?

Federal nondiscrimination laws define a person with a disability to include any (1) individual with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; (2) individual with a record of such impairment; or (3) individual who is regarded as having such an impairment.

Is there still a moratorium on evictions in Massachusetts?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention moratorium on evictions is no longer in effect as of August 26, 2021 as the result of a United States Supreme Court opinion. Certain protections in non-payment eviction cases remain in effect in Massachusetts.

How do I stop an eviction in Massachusetts?

Your landlord must send you a special form with the Notice to Quit in non-payment of rent cases. This form tells you what help you can get to stop an eviction. If your landlord does not give you this form, it is against the law for them to file a non-payment eviction case in court. You may be able to stop the eviction.

How Does A Landlord Evict A Tenant?

The landlord must provide the tenant with adequate written notice in a specified way and form, which varies by state. If the tenant does not move,...

What Should The Eviction Notice Say?

State laws set out very detailed requirements for landlords who want to end a tenancy. Different types of notices are often required for different...

Can A Landlord Throw The Tenant and His Belongings Out on The Street?

No. The tenant has a few days to move his things and self out of the space. After that, the police can come and forcibly remove the tenant.

What Happens to My Property If The Eviction Occurs When I’M Not Home?

The landlord has a number of options regarding property after the tenant has been evicted. The landlord can retain and store the property for a fee...

What Defenses Does A Tenant Have Against Eviction?

There are a number of defenses a tenant can use to delay or stop an eviction. These include: 1. Warranty of habitability – The landlord has the dut...

Should I Consult A Lawyer About An Eviction?

Landlord-tenant law is very complicated and constantly undergoing changes. An experienced landlord-tenant attorney can help you identify the law th...

How to stay in your home after eviction?

Remember, just because you receive an eviction notice, or a summons for an eviction hearing, that doesn’t necessarily mean you automatically have to move out. Do whatever you can (legally!) to stay in your home, and get legal help if you need it.

What happens if you don't show up for an eviction?

In nearly all states, if you fail to show up for the eviction hearing, the court will rule in your landlord’s favor and you will have to move out. This is also called a “default.”

How long do you have to pay rent before eviction?

For example, the notice only gave you three days to pay past-due rent, but your state’s laws say you have 14 days to pay past-due rent before the landlord can file an eviction action.

What happens if you rent late?

Rent is late or landlord becomes aware of another violation. – You really want the landlord to hear about it from you first. Landlord gives you a notice to quit/vacate or comply/pay (if required in your state). – These are different names for eviction notices.

What to do if you violate a lease?

If you’ve violated a lease provision, the first step is to talk to your landlord right away. You’re showing good faith by alerting your landlord as soon as possible, instead of letting them stumble onto the issue on their own.

How long does it take to get a notice to quit?

Notice periods can vary from 24 hours to 30 days (or more!), depending on how serious the issue is and the state you live in. If you get a notice to quit or vacate, you’ll be told to move out after a certain number of days without getting the option to correct the issue.

How much notice do you have to give to correct a violation?

In some states, you’ll only have 24 hours’ notice, while in others, you could have 30 days’ notice or more!

Select your situation to see what you can do

If you want to stay in your home, make a plan to catch up on your rent.

Legal help

If your landlord is threatening to evict you, or you need help understanding your rights, talk to a lawyer. You may qualify for free legal aid, based on your income.

States providing temporary eviction protections

The list below shows states with eviction protections in place, and the date the protections are scheduled to end. In some states, you may be protected from eviction while your application for federal emergency rental assistance is being processed.

Where do landlords file evictions?

In some states, landlords file evictions in small claims court , which is a very user-friendly court not only for lawyers but also for non-lawyer landlords and tenants.

Do you have to be a lawyer to file an eviction?

In many states, however, evictions are filed in regular courts, which are governed by various rules and procedures under your state’s tenant laws. If you are appearing in court for eviction or any other lawsuit, you are held to the same standard as a lawyer. In other words, you are responsible for following all procedures, just as if you were a lawyer.

Can a landlord evict you if you don't serve the eviction notice?

Landlords are required to follow certain rules for evicting tenants. For instance, if your landlord doesn’ t properly serve you the eviction notice, the court shouldn’t evict you. If you’re not a lawyer, you’re likely not aware of these rules, and your landlord may get away with wrongfully evicting you. A judge also can’t give you legal advice about how to handle an eviction, so you’re totally on your own if you don’t know what to do in court.

What to do if tenant is evicted?

If the tenant has good reason to defend against the eviction notice, then they should hire a qualified attorney to argue on their behalf in court. This can help ensure a more successful outcome due to the legal procedures involved and certain evidence that the tenant may not know to gather themselves.

Why would a landlord want to evict a tenant?

There are many different reasons for why the landlord may want to evict a tenant from a rental property, including: If the tenant has breached the terms of their lease or rental agreement (e.g., smoking in a non-smoking building or keeping pets despite no-pet conditions in the lease); and.

What happens when you file an eviction notice?

Once the eviction notice is filed with a local court, then the clerk will send a summons to the tenant and also provide the landlord with a court date for a hearing. At this stage, both the landlord and the tenant should be collecting evidence to support their arguments for and against the eviction at the hearing.

What to do if tenant forgot to pay rent?

If the tenant simply forgot to pay rent or is now in a situation where they are able to pay it, then the tenant should alert the landlord and make the payments.

What happens if a landlord removes a tenant's personal property?

If the landlord removes a tenant’s personal property before the eviction order is granted, then the tenant will have grounds to sue for illegal possession of property and any associated damages done to the property that were caused by the landlord’s illegal actions.

How long do you have to leave a house if you are not a tenant?

If a court rules in favor of the landlord, then the tenant will have a certain amount of days to leave the premises. If they have not left after the time period has expired, then the landlord may contact local law enforcement to have the tenant arrested and removed.

When should landlord and tenant come to their own agreement?

This should happen either before the landlord sends a formal eviction notice or the tenant should reach out to the landlord immediately after they receive it. This is especially true if the reason for the eviction is based on missing rent payments.

What happens if a disabled person is taken to court?

If a disabled tenant lives in public subsidized housing and is taken to court for eviction, courts have a legal obligation under federal law to take mitigating circumstances into consideration before evicting him . Public housing authorities must show discretion by taking into consideration the nature of the tenant’s disability, even if the tenant’s actions may ordinarily result in proper termination of tenancy.

What is considered a disability in rental housing?

In addition, the Act considers a tenant who has a chronic alcoholism problem or who suffers from mental illness or a mental impairment to be disabled.

Can a tenant evict you if you modify your home?

If the tenant decides to undertake the modifications with the landlord’s permission, the landlord cannot evict him provided that the tenant has obtained necessary permits and the work is performed in a workmanlike fashion.

Can a landlord evict a disabled tenant?

Landlords cannot evict a disabled tenant from his home or apartment because the cost of modifying the home to accommodate the disability is "too much.". Landlords have to make reasonable modifications to the living space to insure that it is safe and comfortable for the disabled tenant. "Reasonable" is the key word.

What are self help evictions?

Almost every state has banned “self-help” evictions, where the landlord does any of the following without having a court order: Changes the locks without alerting the tenant. Dumps a tenant’s belongings outside the rental unit. Shuts off a tenant’s utilities.

What happens at an eviction hearing?

At the eviction hearing, whether it’s the first hearing, the second hearing, or a jury trial, one of two things can happen: 1 The court rules in favor of the tenant 2 The court rules in favor of the landlord

What is the purpose of a rent repayment hearing?

In states that schedule two hearings, often the initial hearing is designed to give the landlord and tenant the chance to work out an agreement to allow the tenant to remain in the rental unit, such as creating a rent re-payment schedule if the eviction is due to nonpayment of rent.

What happens if a tenant doesn't move out?

However, if the tenant is not able to correct the issue, or isn’t given the option to correct the issue and fails to move out by the deadline in the notice, then the landlord can proceed with the next step in the eviction process, which is filing an eviction action with the court.

Why is retaliatory eviction called retaliatory eviction?

These are called retaliatory evictions because it can appear that the landlord is trying to “get back” at the tenant for exercising their rights. If the rental unit is in a state that does not require written notice prior to beginning an eviction action, landlords may skip directly to step 4 below.

What is the first step in evicting a tenant?

Step 1: Lease Expires or Is Violated. Landlords can evict tenants for a variety of different reasons depending on the state. Typically, landlords must have a valid reason to evict a tenant unless the lease/rental agreement has expired, such as nonpayment of rent, illegal activity, and lease violations.

What happens if a tenant fails to move out of a rental?

If the tenant fails to move out within their state’s deadline, then in nearly every state, law enforcement officials will return to the rental unit and forcibly remove (or evict) the tenant from the rental unit. See the chart below for the amount of time given to tenants to move out prior to being forcibly removed.

What to do if you get evicted?

If you are facing eviction now, here are four steps to take. 1. Don’t leave your home. The most important thing to do if you get an eviction notice is not to leave your home right away, Cea Weaver, statewide campaign coordinator for the Housing Justice for All coalition, tells CNBC Make It.

What to do if landlord is not following the law?

If you think your landlord is not following the law, you can file a complaint with your state’s attorney general. 4. Prepare for court. Ahead of your court date, make sure you understand how your city or state is currently hearing cases.

Why are courts holding hearings?

Because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many courts are now holding hearings over Zoom or other video-conferencing software. Some cities are using different venues for housing court that allow people to properly social distance. In court, you can argue your case.

When will the eviction moratorium end?

While the federal government extended its eviction moratorium through August 2020, that only covers tenants in federally-financed housing, which is about around 25% of renters. For the other 75% of renters, eviction bans and proceedings depend on the state or city. Some have already reopened housing courts, while others never put eviction bans ...

How to get free help for tenant?

To get free help, contact a local tenant’s organization or legal aid society. Relief organizations are local and you can search for a tenant’s organization in your area here. These groups can help connect you to a lawyer or another nonprofit legal group, Weaver says.

When will the eviction ban end?

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Monday introduced legislation to extend the eviction ban to all renters nationwide through March 2021. That is a good first step, housing experts say, though any rent not paid until that time would still be owed once the ban lifts.

Can a landlord evict you if your building is federally financed?

If your building is federally financed, your landlord cannot evict you right now. Tenants living in private properties can see when eviction protections expire in their state here. The National Housing Law Project also put together a comprehensive list of resources on evictions and foreclosures in each state.

How do landlords notify tenants of eviction?

Landlords must notify tenants of an impending eviction by serving a notice, typically sent by certified mail and taped to the front door. There are four common types of notices:

What happens if you are a model tenant?

Because even if you are a model tenant, you just might end up with a despotic landlord or vengeful subtenant who’s determined to see you and your belongings out on the street. Here’s what to expect if you end up the target of eviction proceedings—and how to fight back.

How long does it take to get a notice to vacate?

No-cause notice: While this is not legal in every city or state, in most of the U.S., landlords can give month-to-month tenants an order to vacate within 20 days (the exact number may vary based on location). No reason or explanation is necessary. Tenants must abide by the notice, according to the eviction laws.

Can a landlord change locks?

In other words: No, they can’t change the locks. No, they can’t throw your stuff on the sidewalk. All that amounts to an illegal eviction. Tenants who believe their landlord has evicted them illegally can initiate their own court case, and potentially receive damages.

Can you stay put in court if you are evicted?

But that doesn’t mean you have to leave just yet, at least not according to the eviction laws. You can stay put until your court hearing, although you should continue to pay rent. (Not doing so might be a show of bad faith, meaning you’ll be less likely to win in court.)

Do you have to leave after eviction notice?

You don ’t have to leave immediately. After the grace period is up on your written warning, you will receive an official eviction notice—also typically delivered by certified mail and taped to your door by the landlord. But that doesn’t mean you have to leave just yet, at least not according to the eviction laws.

Can landlords evict you for cockroaches?

In other words, landlords can’t evict you because you’re complaining about the lack of heat in your apartment or a cockroach infestation. This allows tenants to safely complain about health issues, safety concerns, or discrimination. You can check your state’s laws here.

What should I do if I leave my apartment?

If you’re leaving your apartment and you have nowhere to go, your first priority should always be the safety of yourself, your family, and any pets. If you’re in a position to contact family or friends and ask if you can stay with them for a few days while you figure out what to do, that may be a good option.

How to take on a new tenant?

Taking on a new tenant is a gamble, and landlords want to make sure you’re capable of paying rent each month. You can do this by showing bank account details, confirming employment and income, or having another person, such as a parent, step in as a guarantor. 7. Consider Renting a Room from Friends or Family.

What happens when you leave your house?

When you find out you need to leave your home, you may feel scared, angry, stressed, and confused. While these feelings are completely normal, the best course of action is to stay calm. Getting angry at your landlord isn’t going to change anything. Remember, you will find a new place and things will get better!

What does it mean to ask for references for an apartment?

When renting an apartment, the application will ask for references. Generally, this means both personal and professional references—people who know you well and can speak to your character. Before putting in applications for rentals, reach out to individuals who you think might give you a good reference.

Do rental agencies check credit?

Many rental agencies will run a credit check when you apply for an apartment, which can be challenging if you defaulted on rent payments in the past. It can take time, but you can improve your credit score over time, which can make you more favorable to landlords.

Do you have to go through the rental application process?

This way, you won’t need to go through the rental application process. By paying monthly rent for the room rental, the person you’re renting from can later act as a referee for you, confirming that you’ve been paying rent on time and have been a good tenant.

Can I get evicted and have nowhere to go?

There are many reasons for tenant eviction, and many landlords will be sympathetic and understanding of your situation, as most of us have gone through hard times and can relate. On rental applications, don’t try to hide the fact that you were evicted.