i am late with my rent and my apartment manager says she is going to lock me out by way of changing my deadbolt she has not served me with any court date and does not let me know where i can get a key to be allowed back in my apt. she refuses to let me in untill my rent is paid in full and i dont feel she is right in doing this please help me
2007-12-23 05:12:42 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
im not a deadbeat i am a single mother of a 10 moth old and yes they will lockyou out for bieng late the first time so if you dont have any helpful answers then please dont answer
2007-12-23 05:31:53 · update #1
i say im not a deadbeat bc has anybody thought about the fact i lost my job and havent gotten a paycheck yet from the new one a deadbeat tries to stay for moths without paying im working on it all i wanted to know was can they lock me out b4 i pay it but again if all your gonna do is slam me them please dont waste yours or my time
2007-12-24 07:39:27 · update #2
First of all, is there a written lease? The short answer is - yes she can if she notifies you. But there is a process a landlord has to follow. See below for tenant's rights in TX (Section 92.0081). If they have not followed the process, they are liable for penalties. Know your tenant rights and stop listening to all the wackos whose first comment is "sue them" or "call the police". The police will only try to mediate between the two of you to maintain the peace and will not force anyone to do anything without a crime having been committed.
2007-12-23 07:25:07 · answer #1 · answered by TX Realtor 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In calif. this is illegal. Try to call the police, if they don't help and you have exhausted all other avenues, "you have a legal right to gain entrance to your residence". I have broken down my door to gain entrance to my apt. The police were called and they were on my side because the lanloard had not sued me for eviction and won the case. I also made a citizens arrest against the landlord for illegal confinement outside my residence against my will. The landloard got probation.
2014-05-13 07:16:59 · answer #2 · answered by richard c 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure how you can say you are not a deadbeat, but you do not pay your rent. Apparently you do not know what a deadbeat is. Most people would label you as a deadbeat, you are not paying your way.
In Texas it is perfectly legal for your landlord to lock you out, but they have to give you a new key.
Why not just pay your rent and be done with it? You should not expect your landlord to support you and your child.
2007-12-24 07:31:25 · answer #3 · answered by Landlord 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When a landlord locks you out of your home while you are paying rent, it is illegal. You can take the owner to court and you would win. Even if the owner has just cause the proper eviction procedure must be taken. Everyone in this country is entitled to due process.
Get mad!
2007-12-23 05:42:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can drag this on for months because she has to go through the courts. She has no legal right to change locks without first going through the proper legal channels.
It sucks for landlords and I think you should just pay your rent. Have you been late many times?
2007-12-23 05:21:22 · answer #5 · answered by Veritas et Aequitas () 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
These people answering are INCORRECT except for TX Realtor.
In Texas, lockout for non-payment of rent is LEGAL. Only for non-payment of rent. Not late fees, etc. TX Realtor has it right and the rest have it wrong.
Even the tenant's rights organization's in Texas talk about it. Know your rights.
http://www.texastenant.org/rights/lockedout/lockedout.html
Good Luck!
2007-12-23 12:10:36 · answer #6 · answered by Patrick 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
if it occurs calls the police then a lock smith, have the lock change and deduct it from the rent
the action is label self help and is illegal
2007-12-23 06:19:48 · answer #7 · answered by goz1111 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mary B is correct. Your landlord needs to follow proper eviction procedures.
2007-12-23 05:20:27 · answer #8 · answered by The Eagle Keeper 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Nope! She can't.
If she does, call the police. The police will inform your landlord that she must taket the PROPER legal route to evict you, and they will order her to give you a key, or they will give you permission to break into the property, by whatever means necessary.
That is an illegal eviction...again, CALL THE POLICE.
2007-12-23 05:17:51 · answer #9 · answered by Expert8675309 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
It is not legal, the police may not help you, depending on local custom, but some landlords will do this.
2007-12-23 05:25:16 · answer #10 · answered by Bibs 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋