You unlock this door with the key of accommodation…
Suppose you are a homeowner living peacefully in your own abode. You get along well with your neighbors. Your property taxes are up to date and you keep your sidewalks clear. You and your home have no plans of winding up in court. You certainly never give thought to landlord-tenant law because you aren’t leasing out your home. And yet you might find yourself in in situation that could leave you legally obligated as a landlord. Here are but a few examples:
- Months ago you let your significant other move into your home to save money. You now regret this move as your relationship has gone downhill. If you break up with him or her, can’t you simply show them to the door? Maybe not. They may now have the rights of a legal tenant, in which case you the landlord would have to legally evict them.
- Your nephew lost his job and could no longer afford his apartment. You let him stay in your your basement until he found another job. He has since overstayed his welcome and is not looking for a job. So now it’s adios sobrino, right? Not necessarily. He may no longer be simply a guest, but a bona fide legal tenant.
- You hired a local college student to help take care of you and your home in exchange for room and board. Now you think she is stealing from you and you’ve decided fire her. After you can her she is out the door, right? This may not be a simple business employee relationship wherein termination automatically removes her from your home. You may have to take more extensive legal steps.
These are but a few examples of how people might (or might not) accidentally take on landlord status without knowing it. If you are in any of these situations and aren’t sure exactly where you stand, you should discuss your situation with an attorney. For Ramsey County residents, this can be as simple as coming to our Tuesday afternoon Housing and Conciliation Court clinic, where you can speak to a volunteer attorney for up to thirty minutes. Call us or see our flyer for more details.
