Retaliation
Page last updated: August 22, 2026 · How we source & update
When a landlord punishes a renter — a rent hike, a service cut, an eviction filing — for asserting a right or reporting a problem. In practice dates are what make a retaliation claim work: the complaint first, then the landlord’s response. It does not mean every rent increase after a complaint is retaliation.
Why does this matter to renters?
Many states forbid it and may presume retaliation if the action follows a complaint closely in time.
What does this look like in practice?
An eviction filed shortly after you reported code violations may be retaliatory.
What can I do if this comes up?
Put the date of your complaint or request next to the date of the landlord’s action, and keep both documents. Write down anything else that changed at the same time. If a rent increase, service cut, or notice followed a protected complaint, call legal aid, because retaliation can be raised as a defense in an eviction case.