Tenants contesting eviction must meet court filing deadlines

A tenant who contests eviction must tell the district court they will take part and file a written answer. This applies to tenants served with eviction papers in district court. The answer must list any defenses or claims the tenant makes against the landlord. A tenant who does not tell the court they will take part may face an eviction order. The answer is due no more than five days after the return date. These rules took effect October 8, 2026.

A landlord may ask the eviction court for a money award for unpaid rent. Landlords may seek unpaid rent in an eviction case. The stated rule about who keeps possession applies to evictions for nonpayment of rent. The judge must consider tenant defenses or claims that reduce what is owed. In an eviction for nonpayment of rent, the tenant wins possession if what the landlord owes them equals or exceeds the rent and other lawful charges owed. Either side may bring a separate case for amounts beyond the $1,500 money award limit. These rules took effect October 8, 2026.

A judge may delay a tenant’s removal after awarding possession to the landlord. This applies after a tenant admits the landlord wins or the court rules for the landlord. Tenants in default cannot get a delay. For any delay, the judge must find it fair, and the tenant must pay the former rent weekly in advance. For a delay longer than 60 days, the tenant must also prove they need extra time due to circumstances such as age or disability, and that the delay will cause no financial harm to the landlord, damage to the home, or ongoing health or safety threat to the landlord or other tenants. The delay runs from the tenant’s admission or the court’s ruling. These rules took effect October 8, 2026.

A judge may order a person found to have broken the health, safety, or emergency repair rule to leave immediately. The rule covers tenants, household members, guests, and other occupants. It protects other tenants, landlords, and landlords’ agents. The court must find a violation after a hearing. Only people found to have broken this rule may be ordered to leave and stay away until the court orders otherwise. These rules took effect October 8, 2026.