What will a settlement agreement give me, in terms of time or money?

There are no legal rules for how much money or time the landlord or the tenant can ask for. You should think about what you want and what you think the other side would agree to.

Any settlement should be written down, signed by both sides, and shown to the judge at the eviction trial.

What the Landlord might ask for in a Settlement Agreement

• Getting paid for rent owed, and late fees for unpaid rent,
• Getting paid for utility charges,
• Reimbursements for damage costs to the home, or
• Reimbursements for legal fees for having a lawyer to deal with the problems.

What the Tenant might ask for in a Settlement Agreement

• Staying in the Home,
• Getting more time to move out, or
• Creating a payment plan to get current on rent and other costs.

What are important tips for working out a settlement?

If you are a tenant or landlord, what are some things to do to make a settlement agreement with the other side?

1. Reach out: You can contact the other side at any time, to see if they are open to talking about a settlement agreement. A tenant can reach out to their landlord, property manager, or their attorney.

2. Get it in Writing: Be sure to get any agreement made between you and the other side in writing. This will make sure that it can be enforced.

3. Get Receipts: Get written receipts of everything you pay to the other side as part of the agreement. This will be evidence of paying what you agreed to.

4. Still Come to Court: Even if you have worked it out, both the landlord and the tenant should still come to court.

• If you receive papers from the court saying the case has been dismissed, then you don’t have to come to court.
• Otherwise, you should still come to court — even if the other side tells you that the eviction will be dismissed. Still come to make sure the judge knows there is a settlement agreement.
• Bring the written settlement agreement and receipts to your hearing.

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