Facing Eviction? Here's What to Do First

If you’ve just received an eviction notice, or you know one might be coming, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. Take a breath — this is a stressful situation, but it’s also a manageable one, and there are real steps you can take right now that make a difference. This guide is meant to walk you through those first steps calmly and clearly, without judgment.

First: don’t ignore any notice, and don’t ignore the court

It’s tempting to set a scary letter aside, especially when you don’t know what to do about it yet. But the single most important thing you can do is not ignore it — especially anything that comes from a court. In most places, if your landlord files for eviction and you don’t respond by the deadline or show up to a scheduled hearing, the court can rule against you automatically, even if you would have had a good defense. Responding — even just to say you need more time or that you dispute something — keeps your options open.

If you’re unsure what a notice means or what deadline it sets, that’s completely normal. The next few steps will help you figure that out.

Understand your state’s notice requirements

Every state has its own rules about how much notice a landlord must give before starting the eviction process, and what that notice has to say. Some require the landlord to give you a chance to pay overdue rent or fix a lease violation before filing anything in court. Because these rules vary a lot from state to state — and even by city in some places — it’s worth taking a few minutes to look up your specific state’s eviction process. Your state or local housing authority’s website, or a local legal aid organization, is usually the most reliable place to check.

A few general categories worth understanding:

• Pay-or-quit notices, usually related to unpaid rent, which often give you a window to catch up before further action is taken.
• Cure-or-quit notices, related to a lease violation other than rent, which usually give you a chance to fix the issue.
• Unconditional quit notices, which are more serious and don’t offer a chance to fix the problem — these are less common and usually reserved for repeat or severe issues.

Knowing which type of notice you have helps you understand what response, if any, is expected of you and by when.

Contact emergency rental assistance right away

If the notice is related to unpaid rent, look into emergency rental assistance as soon as possible — timing matters, since some programs can pay funds directly to your landlord and potentially stop an eviction from moving forward if you act early enough. Programs and funding levels vary by state and county and change over time, so:

• Call 211 and ask specifically about emergency rental assistance in your area.
• Search for “[your city or county] emergency rental assistance program.”
• Ask your landlord directly whether they’re aware of, or willing to work with, a local assistance program — some landlords prefer this to going through a full court process.

Even if a program has a waitlist or paused intake, ask to be notified when it reopens, and ask what other resources they can point you to in the meantime.

Reach out to legal aid

Many areas have free or low-cost legal aid organizations that specifically help tenants facing eviction, and in some cities, tenants facing eviction are entitled to free legal representation regardless of income — this is sometimes called “right to counsel.” Even where that’s not available, a legal aid attorney or a tenant’s rights hotline can help you understand:

• Whether the eviction notice you received follows your state’s required process
• Whether you have a valid defense (for example, if your landlord didn’t make required repairs, or didn’t follow proper notice procedures)
• What happens at a court hearing and how to prepare
• Whether you can negotiate a repayment plan or move-out agreement instead of a formal eviction on your record

You can search for legal aid in your state through the Legal Services Corporation’s directory, or ask 211 to connect you with a local tenant’s rights organization.

Go to your court date, even if you’re not sure what to say

If your case reaches a court hearing, show up. Judges regularly see tenants without a lawyer, and simply appearing and explaining your situation is far better than not appearing at all. If you’ve applied for rental assistance, bring proof of that application — some courts will pause proceedings to give assistance funds time to come through.

Start thinking about next steps, just in case

While you’re working through the steps above, it can help to quietly explore backup options too, without assuming the worst:

• Ask family, friends, or your community about temporary options if you needed them
• Contact your local housing authority about Section 8 or public housing waitlists, since these often take time and it doesn’t hurt to be on a list
• If you have children, ask your school district about resources for students in temporary or unstable housing situations, since many districts have a liaison for exactly this

You’re not alone in this

Eviction is common, stressful, and rarely about anyone doing something wrong — job loss, medical bills, and rising rents affect households across every income level. Reaching out for help early gives you the most options, so don’t wait until the last minute to make that first call.

Browse our Housing Help hub for more guides on rental assistance, tenant rights, and finding a place to live, or check our Tools section for a checklist you can use to track deadlines and documents.