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    nhparent's Avatar
    nhparent Posts: 8, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Mar 29, 2009, 06:37 AM
    Did I have right to change locks
    I own my home in NH and I allowed a female to stay in a spare room that I have. I charged her 375 a month. There is NO written agreement.. I told her that SHE alone could rent the room. NO ONE ELSE. I did allow her grandson to stay over from time to time however. So a few weeks go by and I discover that she has invited her boyfriend to stay over a few days (Christmas week).. I was furious. Being Christmas, I relutently allowed him for a few days but I told her NEVER again. Then about a month goes by and I am home watching the news in living room. The kitchen door opens (key lock turned) and in walks her boyfriend.. I am now pissed. She gave him my house key... I kicked him out and she promised me it would not happen again.. Then she started taking off for a few weeks at a time. I suspected she was with her boyfriend somewhere, but do not know. Then throughout her stay, she would ask for money for cigarettes. One day she asked me for my Credit card so she could buy a carton... She became a little upset when I said NO... Finally she took off for 33 days.. NO phone calls/NO letters, nothing. So I changed the locks at day 30.. Not knowing where she was or the disposition of my house key.. Then day 33 she called and asked why I changed the locks? She said she was in a hospital and just got out... Was I in my right to change locks and kick her out of my house?
    stevetcg's Avatar
    stevetcg Posts: 3,693, Reputation: 353
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    #2

    Mar 29, 2009, 06:41 AM

    Nope. She actually has grounds to sue you, I believe.

    She is a tenant, regardless of having a lease or not and she must be legally evicted according to the laws of NH.
    LisaB4657's Avatar
    LisaB4657 Posts: 3,662, Reputation: 534
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    #3

    Mar 29, 2009, 06:42 AM
    No, you did not have the right to change the locks. That is an illegal eviction. This person was a tenant, even though there was no written agreement, and you had to follow the legal procedure for evicting her.

    I suggest that you be very cooperative in making arrangements with her to get her property and hope that she doesn't sue you for illegal eviction.
    nhparent's Avatar
    nhparent Posts: 8, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Mar 29, 2009, 06:47 AM
    Illegal eviction
    I read some responses and think maybe I illegally evicted a tenant.. What can I do? I thought I was doing the right thing? I do not want to be sued for doing what I think was right.. What might a penalty be? Can I get out of this mess? My last post was about changing locks
    stevetcg's Avatar
    stevetcg Posts: 3,693, Reputation: 353
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    #5

    Mar 29, 2009, 06:54 AM

    Let her back in, appoligize and give her a month free rent. Money talks.

    Explain to her that after a month you thought she abandoned the property and you changed the locks because you didn't think she was coming back. Its understandable. If you let her back in right away, I would imagine a court would side with you as a simple misunderstanding.
    LisaB4657's Avatar
    LisaB4657 Posts: 3,662, Reputation: 534
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    #6

    Mar 29, 2009, 07:14 AM
    I've merged your two threads. Please don't start new ones. This way we can keep all of the information together.

    If you're willing to let her back in then she won't have any damages for an illegal eviction, other than any costs she may have had to find a place to live temporarily. If she sues you anyway, one advantage you'll have is that she had previously given out the key to an unauthorized person which may have put you in danger. That, combined with the fact that she appeared to have abandoned the premises may help you.
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