11 Eviction Errors That Cost Investors Thousands
Evictions get expensive when you shortcut court. Change a lock, shut off utilities, or move belongings and you’ve triggered illegal self‑help, treble damages, and even misdemeanor exposure in New York. You’ll also blow the case by picking the wrong notice, miscounting cure days, or serving it without airtight proof. Miss deadlines, accept partial rent after pay‑or‑quit, or keep sloppy ledgers and texts, and you invite attorney fees, insurance denials, and fair‑housing claims. Keep going next. Illegal Eviction Mistakes: Locks and Utilities Cutting corners on a tough eviction can come back to bite you fast—especially if you “solve” a nonpaying tenant by changing locks or shutting off utilities. Every state treats lock changes as illegal self-help, and utility shutoffs are banned nationwide. Mounting legal expenses for landlords can further compound the financial burden when facing lawsuits, similar to what is seen in mold-related cases. In New York, complaints jumped 71% from 2020–2023....