What happens if a landlord removes a tenant without a valid court order?

When a landlord removes a tenant without a valid court order, the tenant may be entitled to significant compensation. In Delaware, the law provides that if a landlord unlawfully evicts a tenant, the landlord may be liable for treble damages. This means that the tenant can recover three times the amount of the actual damages incurred due to the unlawful eviction.

This principle is rooted in the desire to deter landlords from engaging in self-help eviction practices, which undermine the legal process established for resolving landlord-tenant disputes. By imposing the possibility of treble damages, the law aims to protect the rights of tenants, ensuring that they have a legal recourse when facing wrongful eviction, thus providing a strong incentive for landlords to follow proper legal procedures rather than attempting to forcibly remove tenants without due process.