Client Success Story: Avoiding Eviction and Staying Home for the Holidays
Laurianne is a 58-year-old woman living with her adult child and minor grandchildren in a single-family home in Kingston. Laurianne moved in about 12 years ago and had always maintained a good business relationship with her landlord. But recently, Laurianne noticed that the landlord had become extremely irritable over issues which she considered either trivial or nonexistent. Laurianne suspected her landlord, a combat veteran, was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Then, Laurianne received a 30-day eviction notice, citing alleged lease violations. Ironically, the eviction notice was set to expire on Veterans Day.
Laurianne brought her eviction notice to 603 Legal Aid (603LA) and asked for help. 603LA advised Laurianne that under New Hampshire law, Veterans Day is a legal holiday and therefore shouldn’t count as the 30th day on the eviction notice. Since the landlord’s reason for eviction required a minimum of 30 days’ notice, yet his eviction notice provided only 29, it was legally defective. 603LA prepared Laurianne with a motion to dismiss that raised this defense.
Laurianne’s eviction hearing was held on December 5th, and the judge ruled in her favor, granting the motion and dismissing the case.
“Thank God we’re not going to be homeless over the holidays,” a relieved Laurianne told 603LA.
Laurianne will be looking at 5 new apartments this week. She’s determined to find a new home for her family before the landlord can bring them back to court. 603LA will continue to support her throughout the process.