Question

Kirby is a landlord in Greater Minnesota. One of his tenants hasn't been paying rent. Which of the following actions can Kirby take?

A. File an eviction lawsuit
B. Change the locks on the rental property
C. Shut off the utilities to the rental unit
D. Seize the tenant's personal property

Answer 1

Kirby, as a landlord, has several actions he can take when a tenant hasn't been paying rent. He can file an eviction lawsuit, but changing locks, shutting off utilities, or seizing the tenant's personal property are illegal.

Step-by-step explanation:

Kirby, as a landlord, has several actions he can take when a tenant hasn't been paying rent. The following actions are available to him:

1. File an eviction lawsuit: This is a legal process where Kirby can take the tenant to court to seek an order to have them removed from the rental property.
2. Change the locks on the rental property: Kirby should not take matters into his own hands by changing the locks without legal authorization. Instead, he should follow the legal eviction process.
3. Shut off the utilities to the rental unit: Kirby cannot shut off the utilities to the rental unit as a means of forcing the tenant to pay rent. This is illegal and considered a tenant's right to basic services.
4. Seize the tenant's personal property: Kirby cannot seize the tenant's personal property as a means of recovering unpaid rent. This is also illegal and could result in legal consequences for Kirby.