What are my rights as a renter and if I’m being threatened with eviction?

You have the right to receive at written notice of the eviction.  If the eviction is for non-payment, you must receive the notice at least three days before the eviction is filed.  Once the eviction is filed, you also have a right to receive a copy of the petition to evict you.  If you receive notice, you have the right to file an answer and assert any defenses (like uninhabitable living conditions).  If you do not file an answer, then a default judgment can be rendered against you and you will be forced to leave the unit.  If you do not want to stay at the residence, then you can agree to leave without civil action.  Before you leave, however, make sure that you do a walk through with the landlord to make sure that there are not additional issues (like damages to the carpet or walls) that the landlord will later try to pin on you.

If you are being threatened with eviction for something that is not a breach of the lease, you can sue the landlord for retaliatory eviction.  Retaliatory eviction is when the landlord retaliates against the tenant by evicting the tenant for something that is not a breach of the lease.

If you have committed a breach of the lease, then you may be subject to eviction. 

Additional information is needed as to why you are being threatened with eviction in order to determine your appropriate response.

If you are  residential rent, you may only be evicted through the courts (i.e. the landlord may not simply lock you out), and only for good cause, such as--

1) nonpayment of rent

2) Habitual late payment of rent, after warning to pay on time

3) Violation of lease provisions, after warning to stop violating them

4) Disturbing the peace of other residents, after warning to stop

5) Recklessly or deliberately damaging the landlord's property

6) When a lease expires

7) If you're a month-to-month tenant, after 30 days notice terminating your tenancy

8) For any other good cause  listed in a written lease.

There are a few other grounds for eviction, but the above are the main ones.

If there is good cause and the landlord goes through the courts, he or she can evict. However, if there is no good cause or the landlord does not go through the courts, you may not be evicted.