questions & answers

Question: Can a landlord evict because they not animal control or law enforcement deemed your dogs aggressive? There have been no noise or aggressive/ vicious dog complaints filed with animal control but now suddenly we were told get rid of the dogs or be evicted. And the property manager has lied about complaints from the other tenants and about one of my dogs getting out and chasing her boy friend on a day I was home all day with my dogs so I know for a fact none of them got out of my yard and she never mentioned it to my husband who works for her or me. Along with other lies

Answer: As a general rule, a residential landlord may only enforce rules or exercise discretion as permitted by the rental agreement (including any addendums) between the landlord and the tenant. Except in cases of “material and irreparable breach” which cannot be cured, a landlord who wishes to evict a tenant for violating the rental agreement is required to provide the tenant with written notice and an opportunity to cure the breach. If the landlord later seeks to evict the tenant, the landlord will need to explain exactly why and how the tenant violated the rental agreement and will be required to convince a judge that the tenant did in fact do so.