There isn't a renter in the world who's ready to face eviction, but if it does happen to you, you need to know how to handle the situation. Not only should you know what your rights are, but you should also understand where you can turn for help during such a trying time.
At Ace Moving & Warehousing in Minneapolis, we specialize in eviction moving services for renters throughout the Twin Cities metro area. If you need moving assistance, we're here for you. Aside from help with packing and transporting your belongings, we'd also like to provide a brief rundown of what you can expect during the eviction process, so you know how to prepare.
Read on to learn what you should know about your rights during an eviction, resources you can turn to for help, and how our Ace Moving team can help minimize the stress associated with your relocation.
Know Your Rights: Legal Reasons You May Be Evicted
At Ace, we’re not legal experts when it comes to evictions, but we do think it’s important you know if you’re being served with a legal eviction notice.
Some of the most common legal reasons a landlord may evict you include:
- You’ve engaged in illegal activity inside the dwelling.
- You’ve failed to pay rent.
- You’ve caused extensive damage to the landlord’s property.
- You’ve violated your lease terms by having unapproved people living with you or by getting a pet when animals aren’t allowed.
- Your neighbors have lodged multiple complaints against you.
It’s unfortunate, but your landlord may also file for eviction without cause, and it’s perfectly legal for him or her to do so. If that happens, your landlord must give you 30-60 days' notice, but laws do vary by state. To make sure your landlord is complying with the law, it’s in your best interest to check out Minnesota State landlord-tenant law for further details.
In most cases, an eviction isn’t a landlord’s first course of action when he or she is attempting to resolve a conflict. And in many situations, the issue that’s prompting a landlord’s dissatisfaction with your tenancy can be resolved without resorting to eviction and moving.
Reasons You Cannot Be Legally Evicted
Worried your landlord might be on the verge of evicting you and isn’t complying with the law?
If he or she is planning to evict you for any of the following reasons, you have an illegal case on your hands, and you can fight it.
Retaliation
If you feel that your landlord is leaning toward eviction because you made a complaint or filed legal action because your complaint was unaddressed, that’s illegal. Landlords are prohibited from evicting tenants for any retaliatory reason.
Discrimination
If you feel as though you’re being discriminated against because of your race, religion, sexual identity, disability, family status, or national origin, and that’s why you’re being evicted, you should talk to an attorney. You may be able to sue your landlord for discrimination.
Rent withholding due to safety issues
If you’ve refused to pay rent because the property presents unaddressed safety or health issues, such as water damage, mold, or electrical hazards, you are well within your rights to do so. However, you must have requested that any issues be addressed in writing for rent withholding to be okay. If you’ve done that, and your landlord did not fix the issue and now wants to evict you, that’s illegal.
What You Need to Know About Eviction Moving
If you’re getting evicted for legal reasons and know you’ll need to move, the first thing you should know is that evictions take time — they don’t happen overnight. To comply with the law, your landlord must follow a specific procedure for evicting you, and you’ll need to attend an eviction hearing as well, so you should have ample time to pack your things and move out.
But packing up an entire home and moving at a time you weren’t expecting to can be incredibly stressful and overwhelming. If you weren’t already planning for a move, there’s always a chance your regular work and daily schedule won’t leave adequate room to get the job done. That’s where experienced eviction movers can be hugely helpful.
At Ace, our highly skilled professional movers and packers can pack and load your entire home as efficiently and quickly as humanly possible. And once we get your truck to your new house, we’ll even unpack everything for you, too. If you’re strapped for time and don’t know how you’ll ever get everything done by yourself, give us a call to see how we can help.
Curious what we can do for you? Check out What Exactly Can Professional Mover Do for You? for a full rundown.
Other Helpful Eviction-Related Resources
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development runs something called the Continuum of Care Program, which is designed to help people transition into a stable housing environment. Non-profit organizations that participate in the program may be able to help you with referrals to free legal counsel, assistance with back rent, and landlord-tenant mediation. If you need help, check out the website and search for your state and county for more information.
It may also be a good idea to consider renting a storage unit if you’re still working on securing new housing and don’t have a place to keep your belongings while you search.
Need Eviction Moving Services in the Twin Cities?
If you’re getting evicted and need assistance getting your belongings out of your home quickly, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at Ace Moving & Warehousing for help. We’ve proudly served thousands of Minneapolis and St. Paul residents since 1958, and we’re ready to help you move, too.
To learn more about our eviction moving services or any of the other moving services we offer, feel free to give us a call today at 763-755-2045. If you’re ready for an estimate, request a fast quote online, and we’ll be in touch with more information.