Q: Can a landlord turn off my utilities and make me move when my lease expires?
I've received several emails over the past few months from my landlord stating they are putting our house up for sale this month and that we are to vacate no later than end of month due to lease will be over. They've also sent an email when we asked about the mold issue getting resolved that we have violated our lease and we are to move immediately. Now I've received yet another email that they will be showing up on the lease expiration date to make sure we're gone and to have utilities put into their name. We're on several waiting lists for housing but the market is tight right now. What do I tell my landlord when they show up?
A: Tell him he has not begun to comply with the requirements to lawfully terminate your lease. Then go see a local landlord-tenant attorney regarding potential claims against the landlord. Any termination notice MUST be in writing to be valid - not email or text. Second, the landlord has to have accepted an offer to buy your residence and have the buyer make a good faith declaration that they intend to occupy the dwelling as their primary residence, before they can issue you a 90 day Notice (assuming you have been there more than a year) to terminate your tenancy. As it is, it is the landlord's actions so far likely entitle you to damages. Also know the landlord cannot require you to vacate during showings or keep the home in "show" condition. You also entitled to at least 24 hr notice before showings, and are free to decline showings so long as you don't do so unreasonably. Talk with a local landlord-tenant attorney. Good luck.
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