I came home last night and my locks were changed
I called the police and they came out but their was nothing they could do. The police left my landlord a few messages telling her she was not allowed in the house and was not allowed to change the locks. So we had to sleep in the car and finally got in the house by picking the lock. I noticed that she had gone through my things, my computer, and also checked my mail. While we were in the house my landlord though that we were not home and came in again. We stayed in the room and called the police.. she quickly left the house because she knew that we were home. I live in va and were have not been summoned to go to court. I am unsure of what to do. I have not paid this months rent and we just want to leave. i am waiting for her to get an eviction notice to get us out. does anyone know what will happen in court because she did these thingsMy landlord changed my locks?
If you were not properly served a notice to move, then your landlord is in big trouble. You have grounds for a hefty lawsuit, and can now delay the eviction for - in most cases - about 3 mos.. This is worth consulting an atty. about, in my opinion.My landlord changed my locks?
What the owner of your home did would be highly illegal here, and you'd have a good case in court.
If you are eight months pregnant, a car is not the place for you to be sleeping. If and when you get your next place, I hope that you can keep up with the rent so that you and your newborn don't go through stress like this again.
It will be harder once the baby is around.My landlord changed my locks?
She is not allowed to open your mail and you can have her charged for that. You have to understand she is troubled by you not paying so you are both in a tough spot. It is mostly a civil matter. Most likely the judge will scold her a little and you will still be liable for rent and eviction fees.My landlord changed my locks?
I am a real estate broker in AZ and what she did is not okay. Google your states Landlord/Tenant act and familiarize yourself with the laws. In my state a landlord can not change the locks at a property without getting a forcible entry and detainer. Get educated and prtect yourself! You can for sure sue in small claims court for damages!My landlord changed my locks?
she will probably be charged with brakin and enterin and she will have a fine and she WAT she checked ur mail that is definitly a crime thats like snoopyin threw somones house and she came back again she will probably get fired and someone will take her job.hope u get a nicer landlord that wont go threw ur stuff.My landlord changed my locks?
What will happen in court is you will be evicted adnd owe her the rent and legal fees, MINUS one days rent for when you slept in the car.
The sheriff should have gotten a locksmith, while I have no idea why they did not, it will not effect your eviction.My landlord changed my locks?
You would being doing yourself a favor if you just moved out. You can't prove any of what you said. While I/we may believe you that won't help you in court. You could take her to small claims court but it costs money. Sometimes you just have to cut your losses quicker.My landlord changed my locks?
I hate renters like you, trying to live for free! Obviously she changed the locks because you haven't paid. Instead of waiting and costing more money to your landlord, why don't you just move out since you can't keep up with the contract!My landlord changed my locks?
That must be illegal to go through your things and check through your mail because it's an invasion of privacy and is against your human rights. You may get some money and your landlord may be fined, but i doubt it will be any more serious than thatMy landlord changed my locks?
She's probaly going to get money out of you but only what you didn't pay for rent. Although, I'm pretty sure that she can get in REALLY serious trouble for going through your things, especially you e-mail.My landlord changed my locks?
yes legal eviction will be surpassed. However you are entitled to claim compensation from your landlady because she has not kept to the rules of renting.My landlord changed my locks?
Illegal eviction. Your landlord just broke the rules. Congrats u just got money for pain and suffering from the judge!My landlord changed my locks?
She's miffed you didn't pay the rent and she may try to evict you. See what happens. You may get evicted if you don't pay up. Good Luck!My landlord changed my locks?
http://www.ehow.com/how_2046037_pick-locMy landlord changed my locks?
sadly you got evicited ask him.My landlord changed my locks?
Just Leave.
Why wait for her to kick you out?
Get your stuff in the car or rent a van and get out of there.My landlord changed my locks?
You got evicted.My landlord changed my locks?
If you had not paid your rent that would be a reason for her to change the locks. Were you behind in your payments?My landlord changed my locks?
Look up rental rights for Va.My landlord changed my locks?
the owner cant go through ur things like thatMy landlord changed my locks?
:o I feel sorry for you.
xMy landlord changed my locks?
uh oh..My landlord changed my locks?
Check out this site for help:
https://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/family/354-0
Your landlord must issue you an eviction notice before they can change your locks, even then the whole thing has to go through the courts and until the sheriff shows up at your door she has no rights to remove you. She also have no right to enter your apartment without your permission.
Also, don't wait to get evicted, if you want out call your landlord and ask to get out of the lease. Pay what it costs to break the lease and then leave. Doing otherwise may ruin your credit and you will have a hard time getting a rental in the future based on this.
I believe it is also a felony to go through someone elses mail while it is in the mailbox.My landlord changed my locks?
I'm not sure about VA but here in CA, even if you don't pay your rent you can't be evicted untill you give a tenant 30 days notice, and even then if the tenant doesn't leave, you can't just change the locks, you have to contact the Sheriff and they will take it into their own hands, basically there is a long process. And since you were renting, whild renting that is your own property, and your land lord has no right to enter your home! I would right eveything down, with dates, times, what she did etc. And definitely report this to the police, even thought I'm sure they won't be able to do anything, its better for your case. I'm not sure why you want an eviction notice, that looks really bad for you! You should contact her, tell her its not okay for her to break into your home no matter what the reason, and tell her you would prefer to end your lease and move out.My landlord changed my locks?
What she did is ILLEGAL! She cannot enter your unit without 24 hrs notice rent paid or not! Changing the locks like that is constructive eviction, it is illegal and you could sue her for it. She needs to go thru the proper procedure to evict you for nonpayment. She either does not know the laws or is hoping you don't.
And no - the police will not do anything in these situations because this is a civil matter and not in their jurisdiction.
DO NOT wait for a formal eviction notice!! It will make it impossible to ever rent another place!! Nobody will rent to someone with an eviction on their record!
Go talk to her. Leave by mutual agreement so you do not ruin your rental history and possibly your credit!! Now if you leave by mutual agreement and still do not pay what you owe, then she can sue you for it.My landlord changed my locks?
As a previous apartment manager to a 275 unit complex, I can tell you that I would not wait to get an eviction notice. That will only mess up your credit. You should file a formal complaint with the owners (even if it is this moron) and then follow up with filing a trespassing suit against her. Unlawful entry and a ton of other violations that would kick her out of her own apartments. A lawyer would drool over this case and it's guaranteed money in the bank, plus about 6 months free rent! It %26quot;will%26quot; be settled out of court and usually is settled by free rent for a few years. GET A LAWYER! And smile you are in the drivers seat in this case!My landlord changed my locks?
She CAN NOT legally do that with out giving an eviction notice with a time notice to leave!!!! She just broke the law and you could EASILY sue her *ss!!! And I most definitely would! I am sorry this has happened to you. A responsible landlord would know these very basic laws. If she does know the law and breaks it anyway, she is essentially calling you stupid for putting up with it. It does not matter whether you are late on rent by a day or ten months past due. Without a proper eviction notice she has NO right to touch your belongings, enter your home, or change the locks. It is good that you did call the police and that they tried to contact her. That gives documentation and proof to your claim which you should file in small claims. Don't wait. Act quickly while you are preparing to vacate. I feel for you. You must be furious and stressed out. Stay strong.
You being pregnant is another strength is your case to claim pain and suffering. This kind of momentous stress could have caused you to miscarry. Protect your body and relax while you are contacting an attorney. You can file in small claims without an attorney as well. Also, there are some attorneys who will not charge initial fees unless you win your case, which you absolutely will!
