Glossary Term
Constructive eviction occurs when a landlord's failure to maintain the property (or other serious breach) makes the unit unfit to live in or substantially interferes with use, so that a tenant is effectively forced to leave. The tenant may then treat the lease as ended and leave without liability for future rent.
In short
Constructive eviction occurs when a landlord's failure to maintain the property (or other serious breach) makes the unit unfit to live in or substantially interferes with use, so that a tenant is effectively forced to leave. The tenant may then treat the lease as ended and leave without liability for future rent.
If your landlord won't fix serious problems and you have to move out, you may not owe rent for the period after you left. Asserting constructive eviction correctly can protect you from lease-break penalties and rent claims.
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In an eviction, the landlord removes the tenant through court. In constructive eviction, the landlord doesn't formally evict but the conditions are so bad that the tenant is justified in leaving and treating the lease as over.
Generally no, for the period after you move out—if you properly established constructive eviction (notice, opportunity to repair, and serious conditions). The landlord may still sue; you'd raise constructive eviction as a defense.
If the problem is severe enough to make the unit uninhabitable and the landlord won't fix it after notice, you may have a constructive eviction claim. Severity and notice requirements vary by state; get legal advice.
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