Eviction Notice? Me too!

Here's what you do when you get an eviction notice:

1 - DO NOT MOVE OUT! That's the most stupid thing you could do. Don't move or plan to move out - if you leave, you lose your rights. Although you are afraid, nervous, anxious, etc, nothing is going to happen.

2 - EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE FINE! You got an eviction notice. That does not mean you are getting evicted! Statistically you have about a 98% chance that you will not get to an actual eviction, not need to move, and will be there many more years. You need to stay calm and find out what will happen - exactly, in detail, carefully.

3 - TALK TO EVERYONE - And don't listen to anyone that says you need to move. You need to talk to many people - the neighbors and some lawyers. A tenants union or other organizations, a city council office in your neighborhood, and your friends and family. Everyone will teach you things and give you confidence. Look for poeple who already did this, and won the case.

4 - ORGANIZE! - Read the "eviction" papers you have received. You are not getting evicted, did you hear me? Read about what the law a little. Organize your documents - leases, reciepts, bank statements, tax returns, everything in nice folders. Collect you utility/electric/gas/phone records, personal mail, etc. Organize your money, you will eventually have to pay all the rent. And you will do well to pay a lawyer up front, but you may be able to get the that back from the landlord, when you win the case.

Here's some stuff to get you started. These are in New York, where I am.

Search for things on your eviction letter. Lots and lots of info. Read the forums, post messages.
http://www.tenant.net -

Legal firm where I work now. Lots of information on their site too. They only work with tenants law for years, so they know what they're doing.
http://manhattanfirm.com/newsite/fact_sheets/

New York Attorney General information on tenant rights.
http://www.oag.state.ny.us/realestate/tenants_rights_guide.html