Illegal Eviction Procedures in Idaho

Idaho landlords must follow specific rules and procedures when evicting a tenant (see the article How Evictions Work: What Renters Need to Know, on this site). According to the “Unlawful Eviction” section of the Idaho Attorney General 2012 publication “Landlord and Tenant Guidelines,”it is unlawful for a landlord to use self-help to force a tenant out a rental property—for example, by changing the locks or shutting off utilities.  

Depending on the situation, a tenant may sue a landlord for an illegal eviction. If you decide to do so, check Idaho law (for example,  I.C. § 6-303-324). See the Laws and Legal Research section of this site for advice on finding and reading statutes.  And before filing a lawsuit, be sure to consult with an attorney who is experienced with landlord-tenant law in Idaho.  See the article Tips on Hiring and Working With Lawyers on this site for advice.

If you feel that a landlord has acted illegally in terminating your tenancy, it’s also a good idea to get advice from a local tenants’ rights group in Idaho. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website includes information on tenant advocates for each state.  See http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/rental_assistance/tenantrights for details. 

For a wide range of other articles of interest to tenants, see the Renters’ and Tenants’ Rights section on this site.