ABA Family Legal Guide

Renting Residential Property

Ending the Landlord-Tenant Relationship

Lease Termination by Landlords

What can the landlord do if the tenant doesn't move after the lease is terminated?

The landlord must take the tenant to eviction court. The landlord cannot just decide to evict the tenant and carry it out unilaterally. For an eviction to be legal, there must be a court order signed by a judge. Also, the sheriff or some other governmental agent must actually carry out the physical removal of the tenant from the apartment.