Montana Tenant Information

Montana Tenant Information – Renters Rights

 

My Landlord wants to “evict” me. What right does the Landlord have to do this? 

Your Rental Agreement (or Term Lease) must be formally terminated (ended) before you can be evicted (removed from the premises). For your Landlord to terminate the Rental Agreement, you must have received a Notice of Termination from the Landlord.Notice:

1. Were you given notice of violation of your Rental Agreement?

• If your Landlord verbally informed you, which is called “actual” notice, this is usually sufficient. MCA 70.24.108 (1a)
• A Written Notice is not always required, but most Notices are in writing. Written Notices may be handed directly to you or mailed to your last known address. If properly mailed, even if you never actually received the mailing, Montana Law presumes that you have received Notice 3 days after it was mailed. MCA 70.24.108(1c)

2. Is the Notice proper?

• Written Notice must usually include the following: who is giving the notice; who is receiving the notice; the premises to which the notice applies; the terms, actions or conditions of the notice: the date and in some cases the time of the notice; who or how the notice was delivered. Most importantly, the Notice must include the information the specific statute under which it was issued requires (see chart that follows).
• If the Notice is not proper you can request that the Court dismiss, at the beginning of the trial, a legal action brought against you that is based on on the defective Notice. See MCA70.24.108 for what constitutes ‘Notice’.

Tenants Defending an Eviction Forms

Download How to answer an eviction forms in each state.

Tenant Defence Forms

 

Common Termination Requirements:
(The following applies to Rental Agreements wherein the dwelling unit is rented.
Does not apply to mobile home space rental wherein the mobile home itself is not rented)

Termination of Rental Agreement Without Cause (No Reason Required)
Month-to-Month tenancies	30 Day Notice MCA 70.24.441(2)
Termination of Rental Agreement With Cause (Reason Required)
For non-payment of rent	3 Day Notice “Pay or Quit” MCA 70.24.422(2)
For unauthorized pet or person	3 Day Notice “Correct or Vacate” MCA 70.24.422(1b,c)
For destroying,defacing,damaging,impairing, or removing any part of Landlord’s premises	3 Day Notice MCA 70.24.422(3)
For criminal activity that endangers other residents	3 Day Notice MCA 70.24.422(4)
For repeat of any non-compliance within six months	5 Day Notice MCA 70.24.422(1e)
For non-compliance with Rental Agreement	14 Day Notice “Correct or Vacate” MCA 70.24.422(1d)

(The following applies to Rental Agreements wherein only a mobile home space is rented,
not the mobile home itself)

Termination of Rental Agreement With Cause (Reason Required)
For causing an immediate threat to human health or safety	24 Hour Notice “Correct or Vacate” MCA 70.33.433(1c)
For non-payment of rent	7 Day Notice “Pay or Quit” MCA70.33.433(1a)
For late rent payments three or more times within the prior twelve months	30 Day Notice MCA 70.33.433(1d)
For immediate threat to human health or safety	14 Day Notice MCA 70.33.433(1e)
For two or more violations of MCA 70.33.321(1) within the prior twelve months	14 Day Notice MCA 70.33.433(g)
For two or more violations of same park rule within the prior twelve months	30 Day Notice MCA 70.33.433(f)
For destruction or removal of Landlord’s premises	3 Day Notice MCA 70.33.422(1)
For disorderly conduct that deprives neighbors of their peaceful enjoyment and use of the premises	30 Day Notice MCA 70.33.433(1i)
For endangering other residents or Landlord’s personnel	24 Hour Notice MCA 70.33.433(1c)
For causing substantial damage to mobile home park	14 Day Notice MCA 70.33.433(j)
For criminal activity that endangers other residents	14 Day Notice MCA 70.33.433(k)
For Landlord’s decision to change the use of the land	180 Day Notice MCA 70.33.433(l)
For any legitimate business reason not previously covered	90 Day Notice MCA 70.24.436(m)

What should I do when I receive a proper Notice terminating my Rental Agreement?

• • MOVE OUT AS DIRECTED BY THE NOTICE.
    If you move as requested by the Landlord, prior to or by the final date specified in the Notice, you will not be subject to eviction proceedings that could have been brought against you by the Landlord. You will avoid an entry of “eviction” on your public records and court filing fees, process service fees, writ of assistance fees and “holdover rent” fees being assessed against you. However, you will remain responsible to pay rent for the days since you last paid rent and the final date specified in the Notice that the premises remain otherwise un-rented. If you vacate the premises but fail to pay the rent due, the Landlord may file a complaint in court against you for rent due, court costs and service fees. MCA 70.24.427

• If you have already been served with court papers, FIND A NEW PLACE TO LIVE before your court date. You may now be responsible for court filing fees, process service fees and un-paid rent, irregardless of when you move. However, if you stay beyond the court date, the court can award the Landlord “Holdover Rent” which is up to three times the amount of your normal rent. (MCA 70.24.429)

 

How much time do I have before I am physically evicted? 

You will have 10 days to “answer” the court papers that you will, or have received. You must file your Answer to the Landlord’s complaint against you, together with the required court filing fees, within this 10 day period. If you do not file an Answer within that time, the Landlord may request an entry of default, wherein the Landlord almost always automatically wins the case. Or, if you appear in court but fail to convince the judge that your Landlord is acting contrary to law, your Landlord will win the case. Either way you will be liable for the Landlords court filing fees and process service fees AND the Landlord will obtain from the court a “writ of assistance” wherein the court orders local law enforcement to assist the Landlord in physically removing you from the premises very soon after the court date. In most cases, you will be given less than one hour to gather up what possessions you can and leave the Landlords premises. You will not be allowed to return to the premises without the consent of the Landlord and only for the sole purpose of removing your remaining possessions. If you fail to make proper arrangements with the Landlord to remove your possessions within the allowed time, the Landlord may remove and store your property. You will not be allowed under law to obtain your property until you have paid for the costs of removal and storage.

 

Under what circumstances can my Rental Agreement be terminated?

Refer to the chart of “Common Termination Requirements” above. Generally, your Rental Agreementcan be terminated:

• Because your Rental Agreement has expired.
• Because you have violated Rules and Regulations which are a part of your Rental Agreement.
• Because you have failed to pay rent as agreed.
• For no reason what-so-ever, if proper notice was given.

If the Rental Agreement is terminated, the Landlord may file an action for possession (eviction) and a claim for the rent due and a claim for actual damages for any breach of the Rental Agreement. MCA 70.24.427

 

Are Landlord lockouts legal in Montana?

Your Landlord cannot lock you out, throw out or remove your belongings, change the locks or shut off your utilities without a Writ of Possession issued by a local court. If your Landlord short-circuits the legal process and fails to have you served with papers that give you the opportunity to appear in court, you should consult an attorney. However, if your Landlord has complied with the law and you have been evicted or you have abandoned the premises, your Landlord will lock you out, may remove your belongings and can terminate utility service. MCA 70.24.4286. What happens if your Rental Agreement expires, but you continue to occupy the premises and pay rent?If you remain upon the rental premises after the Rental Agreement expires with the Landlord’s knowledge and consent and paid rent, which the Landlord accepted, you are now considered to be a month-to-month Tenant. Your Landlord must give you a written 30 day notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy. MCA 70.24.429

 

We do not think we did anything wrong, so can the Landlord still terminate our tenancy?

Usually, if your Landlord alleges that you have failed to comply with the terms and conditions of the Rental Agreement, you will have a specific period of time to comply or pay, hence the names of the notices, “Comply or Quit” or “Pay or Quit”. How much time you have depends on the alleged violation:

• Unpaid rent: The Landlord must give you at least 3 days MCA 70.24.422(2) applies to dwelling unit rentals only or 7 days MCA 70.33.433(1a) applies to mobile home space rentals only to either pay the rent or vacate the premises. Begin the three or seven day countdown the first day after youreceive the notice or three days after it was mailed to you, whichever comes first, irregardless of when you picked up your mail. If you pay the rent, in full, within the time allotted, the notice becomes void. If you choose instead to vacate (move out), you will still be responsible for rent due until the Landlord has re-rented the premises.
• Violating Rules/Regulations or Rental Agreement: The Landlord must give you at least 14 days to either bring your tenancy into compliance or vacate the rented premises. If you act to resolve the issue within the allotted time, the notice has no further effect EXCEPT (MCA 70.24.422(1e) (applies to dwelling unit rentals only) if you commit the same non-compliance again within 6 months, the Landlord can terminate your Rental Agreement with only a 5 day Notice with no opportunity for you to save your tenancy. For Tenants who rent a mobile home space but not the mobile home itself, if you commit the same non-compliance two or more times in a twelve month period, the Landlord can terminate your Rental Agreement with only a 30 day Notice with no opportunity for you to save your tenancy. MCA 70.33.433(1f)
• Unauthorized pet or person residing on the rented premises: The Landlord must give you at least 3 days (MCA 70.24.422(1b/c) applies to dwelling unit rentals only) or 14 days (MCA 70.33.433(1b) applies to mobile home space rentals only) to either remove the unauthorized pet or person or vacate the rented premises.
• Outrageous behavior: If your Landlord alleges that you or someone presumed by law to be under your control (your children, invited guests) have committed any of the following acts, your tenancy may be terminated, without recourse, in much less time than for other violations: creation of an immediate threat to human health or safety, criminal activity that endangers other residents and destruction and/or removal of the Landlords property. MCA 70.24.422 / MCA 70.33.433

 

What are my obligations before moving out?

If you have a typical month-to-month tenancy, you are required by Montana Law to deliver to your Landlord a 30 Day Notice of your intent to terminate the tenancy.

1. If you have paid a security deposit to your Landlord, additional duties are imposed upon you, depending on the specific terms governing your security deposit, if you expect to have the security deposit funds returned to you without deduction. Typically, these duties include returning the keys to the premises, leaving the premises clean and free of debris and without damage, excepting normal wear and tear. You should also provide your Landlord with your forwarding address so that your security deposit refund can be mailed to you.

2. If you have a term lease agreement, you will need a legally sufficient reason to terminate that agreement before the natural end of the lease. If the Landlord has failed to properly maintain the premises, you may have a sufficient reason to end a lease early, provided you have given the correct notice:

• If the Landlord has failed to maintain the premises in such a manner that causes a threat to human health or safety (MCA70.24.303), you must deliver to the Landlord Notice, specifying the problem, and indicating that you intend to end the agreement in 30 days if the problem is not fixed within the next 14 days. MCA 70.24.406.
• If the problem creates an emergency, the Landlord has only three days t fix it.
• If the landlord fails to correct the problem in the allotted time, the Rental Agreement terminates at the end of the 30 days.

1. If the Landlord has not broken the term lease in any way, then you cannot legitimately terminate the agreement. If you choose to move out before the natural end of the lease, you may be held responsible for all the rent remaining due under the lease provisions.

• For example, if you move out at the end of the 7th month of a 12 month term lease, the Landlord could ask a court to hold you responsible for the remaining 5 months of the lease.
• The Landlord is obligated to try to re-rent the premises after you have vacated. This is referred to as “mitigation of damages.” But if there is a difference in the amount of rent or if the Landlord incurs additional expenses, you could still be held responsible for other expenses including but not limited to lost rent, cost of re-renting, court costs and process service fees.
• If you feel that you have no alternative to moving out before the natural end of your term lease, explain your circumstances to your Landlord and attempt to come to some arrangement that will limit your financial liability. Most Montana Landlords will work with you to resolve the matter in the best fashion possible.

 

Can I find a new Tenant to take my place in the lease agreement?

1. You may not sublet the premises to another Tenant without the Landlord’s written consent.

If the Landlord does not consent, the new Tenant you find will have no right to live on the premises.

Even if the Landlord does consent and accepts the new Tenant, you may still be responsible if the Tenant you found is designated a subtenant by the Landlord. If the new Tenant breaks the lease in any way at a later date, the Landlord can still hold you responsible. It would be better if the Landlord let you out of the lease completely and rented to the new person directly, not using a sublease agreement. However, the law does not require the Landlord to let you out of the lease prior to its natural ending date.

 

How much can the Landlord raise my rent?

While the decisions to pay the rent requested for any given premises or simply do business with another Landlord who offers you more value for your rent dollar is completely up to the Tenant, the rate of rent for your rented premises is determined at the sole discretion of the Landlord. MCA 70.24.201(2a).

 

When can the Landlord raise my rent?

1. Month-to-month tenancy: If you are renting month-to-month, the landlord is required to give you a 30 day advance written Notice of any rent increases.

Term Lease Agreement tenancy: If you have a written lease and it does not contain a provision allowing a rent increase, your rent cannot be increased during the term of the lease, unless you and the Landlord mutually agree to do so.

 

What if I cannot afford the rent increase?

If you cannot afford or simply do not agree with a rent increase, you should find another, less expensive place to reside and give your present Landlord a written 30 day Notice that you intend to vacate the premises.

 

My Landlord won’t fix what he’s supposed to fix. What can I do about it?

The Tenants options under Montana Law depend on the nature of the required repair:

1. If the maintenance not being preformed as required by the Landlord materially affects human health and safety or renders the rental premises uninhabitable per MCA 70.24.303, the Tenant may use Montana’s ‘repair and deduct’ law (MCA 70.24.406) to compel the Landlord to correct the problem within the allotted time. If the Landlord fails to correct the problem, the Tenant may terminate the Rental Agreement and vacate the premises or have the problem corrected by a qualified workman and deduct the cost (which cannot exceed one month’s rent) from the next rent payment.

However, if the repair results in the Landlords purposeful or negligent failure to supply essential services that the Tenant is due under the Rental Agreement, the Tenant may elect to either procure reasonable amounts of heat, hot water, running water, electricity, gas or other essential services and deduct the actual and reasonable cost from the next rent payment OR procure reasonable substitute housing during the period of the Landlords non-compliance in which case the Landlord will not be due rent from the Tenant. (MCA 70.24.408).

 

What do I need to do to be able to ‘repair and deduct’?

1. You must deliver to the Landlord a written Notice of the necessary repair which indicates that if the Landlord fails to complete the repair within 14 days after the Landlords receipt of the Notice (within 3 days if the neglected repair creates an emergency), that the Rental Agreement will terminate in 30 days. These conditions apply to Term Leases as well as to month-to-month tenancies. MCA 70.24.406(1a)

The Landlord must fail to correct the problem in the time allotted.

These ‘repair and deduct’ provisions do not apply if the damage which requires repair was caused by the act or omission of the Tenant, Tenants family members or any other persons who were on the rental premises with the consent of the Tenant. Tenants must maintain their rental premises per the requirements of MCA 70.24.321 and their Rental Agreement.

 

What about repeated situations of the Landlord’s failure to maintain the premises?

If the same problem occurs within 6 months, you may terminate your Rental Agreement or Term Lease by delivering your Landlord a written 14 day Notice, indicating the exact date you will move out and stop paying rent (which must be at least 14 days after the date of the Notice), together with why you are terminating.

 

What is a Security Deposit?

A Security Deposit is value given by a Tenant as part of the Rental Agreement, in money or its equivalent, to a Landlord to secure the payment of rent, utilities, late charges, penalties or payment for damage to and cleaning of the rented premises. These funds are used to protect the Landlord from unforeseen losses caused by:

• Unpaid rent.
• Unpaid utilities.
• Unpaid late charges.
• Unpaid penalties due under the Rental Agreement.
• Damages caused by you, your family, or your guests.
• Cleaning expenses required to restore the premises to the condition when the Tenant first rented, excluding normal wear and tear.
• Any other money you owe to the landlord when you move out.

 

Can I use my Security Deposit to pay the last months rent?

ABSOLUTELY NOT. Tenants who attempt to convert their Security Deposit to a payment of part or all of their final months rent due are liable to incur additional late charges and penalties. Accordingly, if you paid “last months rent” at the beginning of your tenancy, that sum was the payment of rent, not a sum to secure the payment of rent and therefore not a Security Deposit.18. What can I do when I move in to protect my security deposit?When you first rented the premises, your Landlord should have provided you with a signed statement of the condition of the rental unit immediately prior to your occupancy. You should review the statement carefully to make sure that everything is accurate. If, even after you have moved in, you find that there are damages to the rental premises that are not included, write them in. Take pictures of the premises to document the condition. Finally, send a copy of the corrected statement back to your Landlord and keep a copy for yourself.19. What happens if I move in and the Landlord does not provide the statement of condition report?In absence of a statement of the present condition of the premises report prepared and furnished to the Tenant at the beginning of the tenancy, the Landlord is barred from deducting any amounts for damage or cleaning from the Tenants Security Deposit after the termination of the tenancy unless the Landlord can establish by clear and convincing evidence that the damage occurred during the Tenants occupancy and was caused by the Tenant, Tenants family, licensees or invitees. MCA 70.25.206(3)20. Do I have to clean before I move out?Yes. You must leave the rental unit in the same condition as when you moved in. However, you are not responsible for the ordinary wear and tear caused by living there or for normal maintenance performed by the Landlord.

 

Can my landlord deduct cleaning expenses from my security deposit?

Yes. Your Landlord can charge you for any cleaning expenses necessary to return the rental unit back to the condition it was in when you first rented it. However, your Landlord cannot deduct cleaning expenses from your Security Deposit until you are provided written Notice of the cleaning that remains to be done after you have vacated. MCA 70.25.201(3)

After you receive the Notice, you have 24 hours to complete the required cleaning. If you have not finished the cleaning in 24 hours, your Landlord can deduct the remaining cleaning expenses from your Security Deposit.

Your Landlord does not have to notify you about cleaning that needs to be done if you have moved out without giving proper Notice. Additionally, if you have damaged the property, your Landlord is not required to notify you before making the necessary repairs and deducting the costs from your Security Deposit.

 

How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit?

In general, your Landlord has 30 days from the termination of your Rental Agreement to give you:

• A written list of any deductions the Landlord has made from your Security Deposit.
• A check in the amount owed to you, if any, after the Landlord has deducted the permitted expenses.

This accounting and refund amount, if any, must be mailed to you. If you provided your Landlord your new address when you moved out, the information must be mailed to you at your new address. If you did not give your landlord a new address, it will be mailed to your last known address. In either case, it is not the responsibility of the Landlord to insure that you receive the mailed information. MCA 70.25.202

 

Is there any way to get my Security Deposit back sooner than 30 days?

Yes. Your Landlord must return your full Security Deposit within 10 days after the Landlords final inspection if there are no deductions because there were:

• No damages to the premises.
• No cleaning was required.
• No rent was unpaid.
• No utilities were unpaid.

 

What happens if my Landlord does not mail to me an accounting of why he kept all or part of my Security Deposit?

If your Landlord does not give you a written explanation, within 30 days after the termination of your Rental Agreement, of deductions made because of rent due, damage or cleaning costs, the Landlord is barred from deducting any costs for damage or cleaning from your security deposit. The Landlord may, however, deduct for unpaid rent, unpaid late charges, unpaid utilities and unpaid penalties due under the Rental Agreement without sending you any accounting. MCA 70.25.203

 

What should I do if my Landlord wrongly keeps all or part of my Security Deposit?

If you disagree with the amount your Landlord has deducted from your Security Deposit or your Landlord has not accounted for your Security Deposit in the time allotted, you should send a letter to the Landlord explaining why you disagree with the amount and request that the Landlord promptly send you the additional money or a written denial of your claim. Keep a copy of the letter you send to your Landlord. If your Landlord fails to refund to you the additional amount, you may have to file an action in Justice Court. MCA 70.25.204

 

What do I need to show the court to get all or part of my Security Deposit back?

You should tell the court if you did not get a written statement of the condition of the property upon renting the unit. If you did not get such a statement, it is up to the Landlord to clearly show that any damages or cleaning charges were caused by you.

You also should inform the court if you did not get a written explanation of why your deposit was not returned. Your Landlord cannot keep any part of your Security Deposit for damage or cleaning if the Landlord fails to give you a written explanation within 30 days of the end of your Rental Agreement.

If you received the required Notices but disagree with your Landlord’s deductions, you should be prepared to show that your Landlord is wrong by getting written statements or testimony from current or former tenants and anyone else with knowledge of the rental unit’s conditions when you moved in or moved out. You may also want to show pictures of the unit from before you moved in and/or after you moved out. The burden of proof is on the Landlord to show that you caused any damages to the unit.

 

Can I get attorney fees if I win my case?

Yes. The judge may award you attorney fees if you win. However, the judge may also award attorney fees to the Landlord if the Landlord wins.

 

What should I do if I cannot pay my rent when it is due?

COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR LANDLORD. Let your Landlord know that you will be late and make arrangements to pay on a specific date. You may be asked to include a late fee if your Rental Agreement requires it. Most Landlords will understand a temporary problem and work with you to overcome it. The most common error tenants commit is failing to communicate with their Landlord. Without an explanation from the tenant, the Landlord can only assume that you do not take your financial obligations seriously. After all, you did not even bother to make a phone call! However, they are not required to assist you. Even if you are able and willing to pay after the due date and grace period, if any, the Landlord is not required to accept your late payment. Worse yet, if you have been in violation of your Rental Agreement regarding other non-rent related matters, whether you received a legal notice or not, non-payment of rent is the easiest way for the Landlord to terminate your Rental Agreement and replace you with a tenant who will keep their Rental Agreement promises.

 

Now I have received a ‘Pay or Quit’ Notice, so how long do I have to save my tenancy?

COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR LANDLORD. Attempt to make arrangements wherein the Landlord agrees to accept your late rent payment on or before a specific date. The notice will require you to pay the rent due, in full, on or before a specified date. Sometimes this actual date can be ignored by you without consequence. The law requires you to pay in full three days after you have received or are presumed to have received the notice (if you rent the dwelling unit you live in) or seven days later (if you rent a mobile home space but not the mobile home itself). All Tenants are presumed by law to have received a notice three days after it was mailed or when you actually became aware of the notice, whichever comes first. Begin counting the three or seven day period the day after whichever date applies to your specific situation. Often, weekends and national holidays will not count in this determination. If you have failed to make alternative arrangements with your Landlord, but are able to pay in full prior to the final day, you can continue your tenancy without fear of termination.

 

My Landlord sent me a ‘5 Day Notice of Termination’ (applies to dwelling unit rentals) OR a ’30 Day Notice of Termination’ (applies to mobile home space rentals) because I have paid rent late often in the past. What can I do to save my tenancy?

If the Notice was proper per MCA 70.24.422(1e) for 5 Day Notice or MCA 70.33.433(1d) for 30 Day Notice, there is ABSOLUTLY NOTHING YOU CAN DO to continue as a Tenant of the Landlord. In Montana, as well as many other states, the law makes it clear that a Landlord does not have to tolerate Tenants who cannot meet their financial obligations in a timely fashion as stipulated in the Rental Agreement.

 

What happens to personal property left behind when you move?

If you leave your belongings behind in your apartment or house or on your mobile home space after you have moved away and at least 5 days have passed since you vacated and the Landlord reasonably believes that you have abandoned your belongings, the Landlord may remove your possessions from the rented premises and store them somewhere else. The Landlord has no obligation to inform you where your possessions are stored. Your Landlord may reasonably reach the conclusion that you have moved out and do not intend to return and therefore have abandoned your possessions for any one or more of the following reasons: if you have returned your door keys, if you have had the power turned off to the rental unit, if you have stopped paying your rent, if you no longer appear to be residing on the rented premises or if you have made no effort to contact the Landlord and explain your situation.The Landlord should make a list of your abandoned belongings and is obligated to take reasonable care of them. You will not be able to regain possession of your property until you have paid the costs of removal and reasonable storage charges. The Landlord is under no obligation by law to attempt to inform you of the removal and storage of your property by any given date. Accordingly, storage costs charged daily may become considerable. By law, once the property is in storage the Landlord shall:

• Make a reasonable attempt to notify you in writing that you need to come and get your property.
• Send a notice by certified mail to your last-known address, stating that at a specific time, not less than 15 days after mailing the notice, the property will be disposed of if not removed.
• Notify the local law enforcement office of the property held by the landlord.
• Make a reasonable effort to determine if the property is secured or otherwise encumbered (belongs to someone else).

 

Can the Landlord throw away my personal property?

If the Landlord has completed the tasks required by law and listed above, the Landlord is allowed to dispose of the property by one or more of the following methods:

• Selling all or part of the property at a public or private sale.
• Destroying or throwing away all or part of the property if the Landlord reasonably believes that the cost of removal and storage and/or sale is more than the value of the property.

 

What if my property has considerable value?

The Landlord may pay for the cost of removal, storage, Notice and sale with the money made from the sale of your property. The sale proceeds can also be used to pay for any rent or money damages you owe the Landlord. The Landlord must give you the rest of the proceeds from the sale, if any, together with a statement of what was sold and for how much. If the Landlord cannot locate you and you fail to contact the Landlord, the remaining proceeds shall be deposited with the local county treasurer. If this money is not claimed within 3 years, it shall become an asset of the general fund of the county and the Tenant shall have no further claim to the proceeds.

 

What should I do if I receive Notice from my Landlord that he has removed and stored my property?

You should respond immediately and in writing, prior to the 15 day deadline specified in the Notice. If you do not remove the property within 7 days after your response, the law conclusively presumes that you have abandoned your property and your right to regain possession of your property is terminated.

If you go to retrieve your belongings from the Landlord within the time specified, you must pay a reasonable daily storage fee or the actual cost of storage together with the cost of removal before you will be allowed to regain possession of the property.

The Landlord is not responsible for any loss to you resulting from the removal or the storage of your possessions unless the landlord intentionally or negligently damages the property.

 

Can the Landlord take my personal property for past due rent?

The Landlord cannot keep your personal property in exchange for rent owed without your permission. However, if the property is sold at a private or public sale in accordance with Montana Law, the Landlord may keep that portion of the proceeds of the sale necessary to pay past due rent or damages owed to the Landlord.

 

Does my Landlord have the right to enter my rented dwelling unit?

YES. MCA 70.24.312. Your Landlord has the right to enter the premises in order to:

• Conduct an inspection.
• Make necessary or agreed upon repairs, decorations, alterations, or improvements.
• Supply necessary or agreed upon services.
• Show the premises to potential or actual buyers, lenders, tenants, workers, or contractors.

Additionally, your Landlord may enter your rented dwelling unit if:

• You have abandoned the premises.
• You have been absent for more than seven days without notifying the Landlord and the entry is reasonably necessary. MCA 70.24.426(2)
• Your Landlord has a court order allowing entrance.
• There is an emergency requiring entry.

 

Does my Landlord have to give me Notice before entering my rented dwelling unit?

YES. MCA 70.24.312(3) Except in the case of emergency, your Landlord must notify you 24 hours before the Landlord intends to enter your dwelling unit. The Notice can be either written or verbal.

 

As long as my Landlord gives me proper Notice, can the Landlord enter my dwelling unit at anytime?

NO. Your Landlord may only enter at reasonable times.

Additionally, your Landlord cannot abuse the right to enter your dwelling unit in a way that harasses you.

 

What if there is an emergency?

In the case of an emergency, the Landlord can enter your dwelling unit without giving you 24 hours Notice.

 

Can I refuse my Landlord’s request to enter my dwelling unit?

NO. You cannot unreasonably refuse to allow your Landlord to enter your dwelling unit. If you do refuse a reasonable request, your Landlord may:

• Obtain a court order directing you to allow access.
• Terminate your Rental Agreement with proper Notice.
• Recover from you any actual damages caused by your refusal.

 

Can I change or add a lock without my Landlord’s permission?

NO. MCA 70.24.312(5). You cannot change or add a lock to your rented premises without written permission from your Landlord.

MCA 70.24.424(2) If you do change or add a lock without your Landlord’s permission, your Landlord may:

• Obtain a court order directing you to allow access.
• Terminate your Rental Agreement with proper Notice.

 

What can I do if my Landlord enters unlawfully, makes unreasonable requests or harasses me with repeated requests for entry?

Your Landlord cannot enter your rental unit unlawfully, make unreasonable requests to enter or use right to enter in a way that harasses you. MCA 70.24.410

If your landlord does any of these things, you may:

• Obtain a court order restraining your Landlord from any further such activity.
• Terminate your Rental Agreement with proper Notice.
• Recover from your Landlord any actual damages caused by your Landlord’s actions.

 

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