Q: What can I file and serve my landlord for doing illegal things to protect me from an eviction?
Landlord goes through and steals my belongings and food while I'm gone. He takes rent payments but refuses to sign receipts. He demands things be done to cook for and clean up after him. He returned mail without notifying me, causing the loss of medical benefits and food stamps because he doesn't want people to find out he's getting extra money. He yells and screams if he doesn't get his way. I'm disabled and have to climb through window causing pain and bruising because he locks me out and won't give me a key. He sexually abused me and raped my roommate and since I filed for a protection order, he was removed by the sheriff. Now he's trying to evict me. I'm behind in my rent but paid him $100 on the first. What should I do?
A: You should contact a landlord-tenant attorney in your area to discuss potential defenses.
Gregory L Abbott agrees with this answer
A: If you can prove these allegations, you may well have a variety of potential claims against your landlord, some of which may provide a defense if you are being evicted for failing to pay rent. Mr. Stevens is quite right - the only way to really know the strength of any defenses or claims is for you to review everything with a local landlord-tenant attorney.
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