Written by Stefany Perez, HUD Certified Housing Counselor
Our client contacted us after their landlord verbally informed them that the property would be demolished and that the tenant needed to vacate. We advised our client not to move, as this did not constitute proper legal notice. We explained their rights as a tenant and outlined possible outcomes. Shortly thereafter, the landlord and/or their agent shut off the hot water to the unit. At the same time, other concerning incidents occurred throughout the property, including the tenant’s room being broken into and personal belongings stolen.
I connected our client with city inspectors to address the lack of hot water. During their involvement, the city informed them that the property had been deemed uninhabitable and would be demolished, and that they should move out as soon as possible. However, the city did not provide our client with formal written notice, which would have made them eligible for relocation assistance.
Our client then faced increasing pressure from the landlord, city officials, and police, who stated they were trespassing due to the absence of a written lease. They were encouraged to relocate to a hotel and was offered Visa gift cards. We again advised the tenant not to leave while we determined next steps.
I brought in our Legal Director, Liz, who promptly contacted inspector supervisors to clarify the situation. At the same time, we were approached by the landlord’s attorney who offered our client $2,700 (equivalent to six months of their rent) on the condition that they vacate the property by the following day.
After extensive back-and-forth negotiations, we secured an improved agreement: the landlord agreed to pay our client $4,500 and provide them with additional time to move out.
Why This Matters
For organizations like us, this is exactly why our work matters. We step in at critical moments; when time, access to legal representation, and knowledge of tenant rights make the difference between stability and homelessness.
