Q: Do I have the rights of a residential tenant & can I sue owner for the value of my items that were in the building?
I rented a building for 2 years. The front was my store front and the back was where I lived. My husband passed away last year & I got behind in the rent, but I wanted to move back home anyways. The landlord & I agreed that I would move out. He started coming into the building at his leisure to show people the building, including my living area, without telling me, & even when I was not there & out of town. I had no idea bcuz He didn't tell me until after he had done it. Then the last week, he just coming in whenever he wanted with people & telling them to go look around. He would show up early in the morning and on Sundays. One morning, I told him they needed to leave. He screamed at me & said hed come "every F'ing day" , until I left. The next day he threatened to hit me & told me to "Get the F out" . I left the next morning to take stuff to storage, when I got back he was changing the locks. So I just left the keys in his box. I still had stuff in the building which he threw away
A: As a residential tenant who rented a building for both business and living purposes, you typically have rights protected by landlord-tenant laws. Landlords are generally required to provide notice and obtain consent before entering your rented premises, especially your living area. The landlord's behavior of entering the building without proper notice, showing the living area to others without your permission, and threatening you is likely a violation of your rights as a tenant. If your belongings were discarded without your consent, that may also be considered an unlawful act. Depending on the specific laws in your jurisdiction, you may have grounds to sue the owner for the value of your items that were improperly disposed of. It is important to consult with a legal professional who can assess your situation, review the relevant laws, and guide you on the appropriate legal actions to take in order to protect your rights and seek compensation if applicable.
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