3. Defend yourself if the landlord comes after you for money
Question & Answer
Should I try to get evicted if I want to get out of my lease?If your landlord wants money from you after evicting you, you might get a letter or a phone call from the landlord, a lawyer, a paralegal, or a collection agency.
Or you might get a legal called a Plaintiff’s Claim if they decide to sue you in Small Claims Court.
Depending on what the landlord is claiming, there may be good reasons why you shouldn’t have to pay. For example, the landlord might be asking for rent for the time after your legally ended or after a new tenant moved in. Or you might be able to show that your landlord didn’t try very hard to find a new tenant.
You can also argue that when the landlord evicted you, they gave up the right to make you pay for anything after the eviction date.
If a collection agency has contacted you, learn about your rights and the rules the collection agency must follow.
If you are being sued in Small Claims Court, read the Plaintiff’s Claim carefully to see what the deadline is for you to file a Defence. If you don’t file a Defence the court will make a decision without you and you will probably have to pay. Find out how the court’s process works.
