Check List for Agency Housing Workers RE: Eviction Prevention

  • Pay your rent on time; if you can’t get the rent money together in time:
  • Talk to your landlord if you can’t pay your rent on time, and make a plan to pay that the landlord agrees with. Stick to that plan.
  • Put the repayment plan in writing. Make it realistic. It's important that you honor this agreement, or your landlord will lose faith in you. Then, he or she may take more drastic steps such as eviction.
  • If the landlord agrees to a repayment plan, put it in writing. Make sure it says that as long as you follow the repayment plan, the landlord cannot evict you. The paper should be signed and dated by both you and the landlord.
  • Ask the landlord if you can do any work around the property to help pay the back rent.
  • If you believe your landlord has failed to provide a safe and healthy home, ask for advice about the next steps to take.
  • When discussing your nonpayment of rent, focus on that issue and don't complicate matters by bringing up other problems with the landlord.
  • Abiding by any obligations on the rental lease/agreement
  • If you cause damage to the unit, fix it or get someone to fix it for you.
  • Attending to damages created by someone you invited into your unit
  • Not disturbing other renters (no parties)
  • If there is a disturbance (ex: a domestic disturbance) and police are called, talk to your landlord.
  • Tell your landlord right away if there is a problem in your unit that needs to be fixed (ex: if a faucet is leaking).
  • If the landlord is usually slow to respond, thenput repair request in writing
  • Follow your landlord’s “house rules” (ex: no pets, no smoking).
  • Keep your rental unit clean. Don’t hoard garbage or other items.
  • If you are going away for a while, let your landlord or caretaker know so they don’t think you have abandoned (walked away from) the unit. Make sure your rent is paid while you are away.
  • Let your landlord into your unit if they give you proper notice (they need to give you at least 24-hour notice in most cases; but if it’s an emergency, like a broken water pipe, they can come in right away).
  • Remember that if you say to the landlord that you are moving out, it counts as notice and you will have to move. You can’t change your mind, unless your landlord agrees.