Tenant Resources
Resources, organizations, and information to help you navigate Missoula’s housing market.
Your Rights (and lack thereof)
It’s illegal for your landlord to evict you for being a member of a tenants union!
That goes for being a member of a formal tenants organization like MTU, or an informal organization like a group of you and your neighbors, for example.
Your landlord cannot legally force you out of your home without going through the court system.
This also means they can’t shut off your utilities or lock you out to try to force you out before that.
There are no laws protecting vulnerable tenants from evictions.
The awful truth is that, legally, landlords can evict people who are disabled, elderly, pregnant, or have new babies, for example. There is also no Montana law that keeps landlords from evicting tenants in winter. However, it is illegal to evict a tenant because of their protected class, like their race, gender, sexuality, or disability.
Tenants don’t get a free lawyer in their eviction cases.
As things are right now, tenants don’t get a lawyer appointed to them in eviction cases. MTU is looking to change this, as some other places around the country have. In the meantime, you can use resources like the Missoula Self Help Law Center and montanalawhelp.org to navigate your eviction case.
Tenant Tips
Always communicate with your landlord or property manager in writing (including text or email).
Having your communications with your landlord saved can be really helpful in the case your landlord tries to pull anything sketchy.
Make a detailed list of any damage to your home when you first move in. Taking photos won’t hurt, either.
It’ll be more difficult for your landlord to blame damages on you and keep your security deposit if you have proof of the state of your unit when you first moved in. If your landlord provides you with such a list in your lease, make sure you read it and add any damages not listed on there.
Do not withhold rent without talking to a lawyer first.
While withholding rent is a reasonable thing to want to do when your landlord doesn’t uphold their end of the deal, it may or may not be legal for you to do so. You don’t want your landlord to sue you for withholding rent.
Served with eviction papers from the court? Make sure you file an answer within 5 days!
Your landlord has started the formal eviction process if you’ve been served with a “Summons and Complaint” from the court. The judge won’t hear your side of the story unless you file an answer. You can visit montanalawhelp.org for more information on filing an answer in an eviction.
Meet your neighbors!
Your neighbors might have the same landlord or property management as you, in which case you can learn if you’re having any of the same troubles they might have with your landlord. It’s a good idea to meet your neighbors, anyway, so you have nothing to lose!