Q: Can my landlord evict me for a “messy” house? I have a 12 month lease.
Myself, my fiancé, and daughter live in a 2 bed 1bath. My landlord came in and was screaming how my house is “filthy” and like a “landfill”. My house is cluttered with baby toys and bouncers and the floor has a tummy time mat. However there is not any health hazards like mold or mildew. Can she break our 12 month lease because of clutter? Or was the yelling perhaps to scare us?
A:
Generally, a landlord cannot evict a tenant for having a "messy" or cluttered house, as long as the clutter does not violate the lease agreement, local health codes, or other laws. Clutter from baby items like toys, bouncers, and tummy time mats would not typically be grounds for eviction.
However, there are some situations where a landlord might have a case for eviction due to the condition of the property:
1. If the clutter is so severe that it poses a health or safety hazard, such as blocking exit paths or attracting pests.
2. If the lease agreement includes specific provisions about maintaining a certain level of cleanliness or limiting clutter, and the tenant violates these terms.
3. If the clutter is causing damage to the property.
From the information you provided, it doesn't sound like your situation meets these criteria. The landlord's yelling and threatening behavior could be an attempt to intimidate you into keeping the property more organized to their liking.
To protect yourself, document the condition of the property with photos and written descriptions. If the landlord continues to harass you or threatens eviction, consider reaching out to a local tenants' rights organization or a lawyer specializing in landlord-tenant law for advice on your specific situation.
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