questions & answers

Question: On first week of june my landlord and i had a verbal agreement which was he wasn't going to charge me for the current months rent as long as i turned in my keys to the unit we agreed to go our separate ways but it is now the 5th day into the new month i had expressed to him that my check was accidentally was being mailed to me he have me a few days now the check isn't here yet and he is telling me i have 2 days to move out and if not out on the 3rd day he will show up to collect last months and current months rent and proceed with eviction. Do i have any rights?

Answer: A tenant in such a situation has a right to defend themselves from an eviction action (which may only be initiated by the landlord at least 5 days after the tenant has received a 5-day pay or quit notice) or a lawsuit by the landlord for monetary damages due to unpaid rent by telling the judge – both in writing in an answer to the complaint and in the courtroom at the hearing – that the landlord and the tenant had a verbal agreement, but unless the tenant has strong supporting evidence, there is no guarantee that the judge will be persuaded.