My lease is ending, and the landlord doesn't want to make a new contract with me. On top of that, they said they would file an eviction lawsuit to have me vacate the property. I think the goal is to rent it out to someone else for a higher price. What should I do in this situation? If they file a lawsuit, will they kick me out immediately?
I experienced the same thing last year. The landlord outright said, 'I'll rent it to the new tenant for a higher price.' He filed a contentious eviction lawsuit, but it took about 6 months. During that time, I paid the rent on time, and he couldn't do anything. I would recommend consulting a lawyer first.
Now, you have to consider the landlord as well. There's inflation, rents have skyrocketed. The old contract price seems ridiculous. The guy might not want to incur losses. But of course, saying "I'll file a lawsuit" feels threatening; that part, I think, is problematic.
Landlords may have valid reasons to find the current rental price low, but specific grounds are required for them to file an eviction lawsuit. For instance, they can file a lawsuit if they intend to live in the property themselves or if they plan to sell the house. Simply stating "I want to rent it out for a higher price" cannot be grounds for a lawsuit. You need to go see a lawyer and lay out your situation clearly.
I forgot to add this: The rent has always been paid on time, no shortcomings at all. But the guy clearly said he doesn't want to renew. It feels like he's just waiting for an opportunity 😅
Waking up to these lawsuits every day is stressful. You wake up in the morning, constantly thinking, 'what will happen?' Our rights as tenants are already limited, and now there are these threats. Please don’t hesitate to claim your rights.
