What is a "retaliatory eviction"?

A retaliatory eviction occurs when a landlord evicts a tenant specifically in response to the tenant exercising their legal rights, such as requesting necessary repairs or filing a complaint about unsafe living conditions. This type of eviction is deemed unlawful because it punishes the tenant for standing up for their rights under housing laws. This protection exists to prevent landlords from using eviction as a method of intimidation or retaliation against tenants who assert their rights to safe and habitable living conditions.

In this context, the other options describe circumstances that do not involve retaliation against a tenant for exercising their rights. For instance, evictions based on property damage or financial difficulties may involve legitimate grounds for termination of a lease, but they do not inherently contain the aspect of retaliation. Additionally, eviction based solely on a landlord's personal preference does not reflect a response to the tenant's action and therefore is not categorized as a retaliatory eviction.