How to Prolong an Eviction
You may have had a run of bad luck. Perhaps you were let go from your job or suffered a debilitating illness. Regardless of the reason, the sheriff serves you with an eviction notice and you must vacate the premises sooner than you'd like. If you just had a little more time, you could rectify the situation so the eviction would go away.
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Instructions
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Petition the court for more time. You must have a valid reason to challenge the eviction, such as that the eviction notice was not in accordance with established procedures or that it did not contain adequate information as set out by the laws of the state where you live.
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Demonstrate to the court that your landlord did not fulfill his obligation to you, his tenant. Document any failure by your landlord to provide a habitable environment. This may include repairs that were never made, inoperable heating, air conditioning or appliances, or services that were lacking. If the court deems your complaints plausible, the judge will ask the landlord to respond to the allegations, delaying the eviction proceeding.
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Attempt to rectify the reason for the eviction. You might be able to buy some extra time if the reason for eviction was something other than nonpayment of the rent or mortgage. For example, if the landlord states in the eviction notice that he took action because an unauthorized animal lived on the property, tell the court that you are making arrangements for the animal to live elsewhere. If the landlord's complaint is that you damaged the property more than simple wear-and-tear, ask the court for more time to make repairs.
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Appeal the filing. One of the most effective ways to stall an eviction is to file an appeal, regardless of how frivolous it may be. The court will delay the next hearing until the judge has read your appeal. In some cases, it could be for as much as two or three weeks.
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