What action is considered a retaliatory eviction?

Retaliatory eviction occurs when a landlord evicts or takes adverse action against a tenant in response to the tenant exercising their rights, such as making complaints about unsafe living conditions. This protection is designed to ensure that tenants can report issues without fear of losing their housing. When a tenant reports unsafe conditions, they are standing up for their legal rights, and retaliating against them for taking this action undermines those protections and can be viewed as an infringement on tenant rights.

In contrast, actions such as evicting a tenant for non-payment of rent or for subleasing without permission are based on failing to fulfill lease obligations rather than retaliating against the tenant's rightful complaints. Similarly, not renewing a lease does not typically fall under the category of retaliatory eviction, as it can often be a legitimate business decision made by the landlord for various reasons unrelated to tenant complaints.