Self-help Eviction

At common law a landlord could use reasonable force to oust a defaulting tenant.[1] Landlord-tenant law today varies greatly on the right of the landlord to self-help evict a tenant.

In some American jurisdictions a landlord may use reasonable force to oust a commercial tenant and is only required to resort to eviction lawsuits if it is not possible to self-help evict the tenant without excessive force.[2] If the lease provides for self-help eviction some courts will enforce such a provision, but the published opinions may be limited to commercial leases.[3]

In many jurisdictions landlord may not resort to self-help eviction regardless of whether the tenancy is commercial or residential.[4] Some courts have held that a lease provision to the contrary is not enforceable.[5]


[1] See Scoshonski, American Law of Landlord and Tenant §6.5; Friedman, Milton Friedman on Leases §1:1.3.

[2] See, for example, Watson v. Brown, 67 Haw. 252, 686 P.2d 12 (1984); Craig Wrecking Co. v. S.G. Loewendick & Sons, Inc., 38 Ohio App.3d 79, 526 N.E.2d 321 (1987); PRC Kentron, Inc. v. First City Center Associates, II, 762 SW2d 279 (Tx.App. 1988).

[3] See, for example, Rucker v. Wynn, 212 Ga.App. 69, 441 SE2d 417 (1994); Jovana Spaghetti House, Inc. v. Heritage Co. of Massena, 189  AD2d 1041, 592 N.Y.S.2d 879 (1993).

[4] See, for example, Spencer v. Commercial Co., 30 Wash. 520, 71 P. 53 (1902); Nelson v. Swanson, 177 Wash. 187, 31 P.2d 521 (1934).

[5] Spencer v. Commercial Co., 30 Wash. 520, 71 P. 53 (1902).

Posted in Landlord Tenant Law.