What Happens When Your Landlord Goes to Jail?

It can be trying and confusing time, but as a renter you have rights.

Just because your landlord is now in jail doesn’t mean that their responsibilities have disappeared. If you signed a lease agreement, it’s still binding, and you’re still responsible for paying rent. However, your landlord may not be available to fix anything that breaks.

It might be worth contacting the authorities if your landlord’s absence affects habitability of the property or if anything illegal is happening. Get in touch with the local Housing Authority if your landlord hasn’t been paying utility bills, but you’re still paying for services like water and electricity.

When facing jail time, landlords frequently delegate their obligations to a property management firm. Following this, this company will take on all of the landlord’s duties, including upkeep and rent collection. To prevent any legal issues, it is important to seek formal documents that confirm the transfer of responsibility.

If the landlord is in jail for a long time or facing foreclosure, then it might be in your best interest to explore other housing options. It’s best to figure it all out and prepare before your current lease agreement expires.

In most cases, unless the property in question was involved in fraud or illegal drugs, the property will remain with the jailed landlord.