Utah Code
Title 78
Chapter 36
Forcible Entry and Detainer
"Forcible entry" defined.
Every person is guilty of a forcible entry, who either:
(1) by breaking open doors, windows or other parts of a house,
or by fraud, intimidation or stealth, or by any kind of violence or
circumstances of terror, enters upon or into any real property; or,
(2) after entering peaceably upon real property, turns out by
force, threats or menacing conduct the party in actual possession.
Title 78, Chap. 36, §78-36-1
No Change Since 1953
"Forcible detainer" defined.
Every person is guilty of a forcible detainer who either:
(1) by force, or by menaces and threats of violence, unlawfully
holds and keeps the possession of any real property, whether the
same was acquired peaceably or otherwise; or,
(2) in the nighttime, or during the absence of the occupants
of any real property, unlawfully enters thereon, and, after demand
made for the surrender thereof, refuses for the period of three days
to surrender the same to such former occupant. The occupant of real
property within the meaning of this subdivision is one who within
five days preceding such unlawful entry was in the peaceable and
undisturbed possession of such lands. Title 78, Chap. 36, §78-36-2.
No Change Since 1953
Unlawful detainer by tenant for term less than life.
(1) A tenant of real property, for a term less than life, is
guilty of an unlawful detainer:
(a) when he continues in possession, in person or by subtenant,
of the property or any part of it, after the expiration of the
specified term or period for which it is let to him, which specified
term or period, whether established by express or implied contract,
or whether written or parol, shall be terminated without notice at
the expiration of the specified term or period;
(b) when, having leased real property for an indefinite time
with monthly or other periodic rent reserved:
(i) he continues in possession of it in person or by subtenant
after the end of any month or period, in cases where the owner, his
designated agent, or any successor in estate of the owner, 15 days
or more prior to the end of that month or period, has served notice
requiring him to quit the premises at the expiration of that month
or period; or
(ii) in cases of tenancies at will, where he remains in
possession of the premises after the expiration of a notice of not
less than five days;
(c) when he continues in possession, in person or by subtenant,
after default in the payment of any rent and after a notice in
writing requiring in the alternative the payment of the rent or the
surrender of the detained premises, has remained uncomplied with for
a period of three days after service, which notice may be served at
any time after the rent becomes due;
(d) when he assigns or sublets the leased premises contrary
to the covenants of the lease, or commits or permits waste on the
premises, or when he sets up or carries on any unlawful business on
or in the premises, or when he suffers, permits, or maintains on or
about the premises any nuisance, including nuisance as defined in
Section 78-38-9, and remains in possession after service upon him of
a three days' notice to quit; or
(e) when he continues in possession, in person or by
subtenant, after a neglect or failure to perform any condition or
covenant of the lease or agreement under which the property is held,
other than those previously mentioned, and after notice in writing
requiring in the alternative the performance of the conditions or
covenant or the surrender of the property, served upon him and upon
any subtenant in actual occupation of the premises remains
uncomplied with for three days after service. Within three days
after the service of the notice, the tenant, any subtenant in actual
occupation of the premises, any mortgagee of the term, or other
person interested in its continuance may perform the condition or
covenant and thereby save the lease from forfeiture, except that if
the covenants and conditions of the lease violated by the lessee
cannot afterwards be performed, then no notice need be given.
(2) Unlawful detainer by an owner resident of a mobile home is
determined under Title 57, Chapter 16, Mobile Home Park Residency
Act.
(3) The notice provisions for nuisance in Subsection 78-36-3
(1)(d) are not applicable to nuisance actions provided in Sections
78-38-9 through 78-38-16 only. Title 78, Chap. 36, §78-36-3.
Right of tenant of agricultural lands to hold over.
In all cases of tenancy upon agricultural lands, where the
tenant has held over and retained possession for more than 60 days
after the expiration of his term without any demand of possession or
notice to quit by the owner, his designated agent, or his successor
in estate, he shall be deemed to be held by permission of the owner,
his designated agent, or his successor in estate, and shall be
entitled to hold under the
terms of the lease for another full year, and shall not be
guilty of an unlawful detainer during that year; and the holding
over for the 60-day period shall be taken and construed as a consent
on the part of the tenant to hold for another year. Title 78,
Chap. 36, §78-36-4.
Remedies available to tenant against undertenant.
A tenant may take proceedings similar to those prescribed in
this chapter to obtain possession of the premises let to an
undertenant in case of his unlawful detention of the premises
underlet to him. Title 78, Chap. 36 §78-36-5.
No Change Since 1953
Definitions -- Notice to quit -- How served.
(1) For purposes of this section:
(a) "Commercial tenant" means any tenant who may be a
body politic and corporate, partnership, association, or company.
(b) "Tenant" means any natural person and any
individual other than a commercial tenant.
(2) The notices required by Title 78, Chapter 36, Forcible Entry
and Detainer, may be served:
(a) by delivering a copy to the tenant personally or, if the
tenant is a commercial tenant, by delivering a copy to the
commercial tenant's usual place of business by leaving a copy of the
notice with a person of suitable age and discretion;
(b) by sending a copy through registered or certified mail
addressed to the tenant at his place of residence or, if the tenant
is a commercial tenant, by sending a copy through registered or
certified mail addressed to the commercial tenant's usual place of
business;
(c) if he is absent from his place of residence or from his
usual place of business, by leaving a copy with a person of suitable
age and discretion at either place and mailing a copy to the tenant
at the address of his place of residence or place of business;
(d) if a person of suitable age or discretion cannot be found
at the place of residence, then by affixing a copy in a conspicuous
place on the leased property; or
(e) if an order of abatement by eviction of the nuisance is
issued by the court as provided in Section 78-38-11, when issued,
the parties present shall be on notice that the abatement by
eviction order is issued and immediately effective or as to any
absent party, notice shall be given as provided in Subsections
(2)(a) through (e).
(3) Service upon a subtenant may be made in the same manner as
provided in Subsection (2). Title 78, Chap. 36, §78-36-6.
Necessary parties defendant.
(1) No person other than the tenant of the premises, and
subtenant if there is one in the actual occupation of the premises
when the action is commenced, shall be made a party defendant in the
proceeding, except as provided in Section 78-38-13, nor shall any
proceeding abate, nor the plaintiff be nonsuited, for the nonjoinder
of any person who might have been made a party defendant; but when
it appears that any of the parties served with process or appearing
in the proceedings are guilty, judgment shall be rendered against
those parties.
(2) If a person has become subtenant of the premises in
controversy after the service of any notice as provided in this
chapter, the fact that such notice was not served on the subtenant
is not a defense to the action. All persons who enter under the
tenant after the commencement of the action shall be bound by the
judgment the same as if they had been made parties to the action.
(3) A landlord, owner, or designated agent is a necessary
party defendant only in an abatement by eviction action for an
unlawful drug house as provided in Section 78-38-13. Title 78,
Chap. 36, §78-36-7.
Allegations permitted in complaint -- Time for appearance
-- Service of summons.
The plaintiff in his complaint, in addition to setting forth the
facts on which he seeks to recover, may set forth any circumstances
of fraud, force, or violence which may have accompanied the alleged
forcible entry, or forcible or unlawful detainer, and claim damages
therefor or compensation for the occupation of the premises, or
both. If the unlawful detainer charged is after default in the
payment of rent, the complaint shall state the amount of rent due.
The court shall indorse on the summons the number of days within
which the defendant is required to appear and defend the action,
which shall not be less than three or more than 20 days from the
date of service. The court may authorize service by publication or
mail for cause shown. Service by publication is complete one week
after publication. Service by mail is complete three days after
mailing. The summons shall be changed in form to conform to the time
of service as ordered, and shall be served as in other cases. Title
78, Chap. 36, §78-36-8.
Possession bond of plaintiff -- Alternative remedies.
(1) At any time between the filing of his complaint and the
entry of final judgment, the plaintiff may execute and file a
possession bond. The bond may be in the form of a corporate bond, a
cash bond, certified funds, or a property bond executed by two
persons who own real property in the state and who are not parties
to the action. The court shall approve the bond in an amount that is
the probable amount of costs of suit and damages which may result to
the defendant if the suit has been improperly instituted. The bond
shall be payable to the clerk of the court for the benefit of the
defendant for all costs and damages actually adjudged against the
plaintiff. The plaintiff shall notify the defendant that he has
filed a possession bond. This notice shall be served in the same
manner as service of summons and shall inform the defendant of all
of the alternative remedies and procedures under Subsection (2).
(2) The following are alternative remedies and procedures
applicable to an action if the plaintiff files a possession bond
under Subsection (1):
(a) With respect to an unlawful detainer action based solely
upon nonpayment of rent or utilities, the existing contract shall
remain in force and the complaint shall be dismissed if the
defendant, within three days of the service of the notice of the
possession bond, pays accrued rent, utility charges, any late fee,
and other costs, including attorney's fees, as provided in the
rental agreement.
(b) The defendant may remain in possession if he executes and
files a counter bond in the form of a corporate bond, a cash bond,
certified funds, or a property bond executed by two persons who own
real property in the state and who are not parties to the action.
The form of the bond is at the defendant's option. The bond shall be
payable to the clerk of the court. The defendant shall file the bond
prior to the expiration of three days from the date he is served
with notice of the filing of plaintiff's possession bond. The court
shall approve the bond in an amount that is the probable amount of
costs of suit and actual damages that may result to the plaintiff if
the defendant has improperly withheld possession. The court shall
consider prepaid rent to the owner as a portion of the defendant's
total bond.
(c) The defendant, upon demand, shall be granted a hearing to
be held prior to the expiration of three days from the date the
defendant is served with notice of the filing of plaintiff's
possession bond.
(3) If the defendant does not elect and comply with a remedy
under Subsection (2) within the required time, the plaintiff, upon
ex parte motion, shall be granted an order of restitution. The
constable of the precinct or the sheriff of the county where the
property is situated shall return possession of the property to the
plaintiff promptly.
(4) If the defendant demands a hearing under Subsection (2)
(c), and if the court rules after the hearing that the plaintiff is
entitled to possession of the property, the constable or sheriff
shall promptly return possession of the property to the plaintiff.
If at the hearing the court allows the defendant to remain in
possession and further issues remain to be adjudicated between the
parties, the court shall require the defendant to post a bond as
required in Subsection (2) (b). If at the hearing the court rules
that all issues between the parties can be adjudicated without
further court proceedings, the court shall, upon adjudicating those
issues, enter judgment on the merits. Title 78, Chap. 36, §78-36-8.5.
Proof required of plaintiff -- Defense.
On the trial of any proceeding for any forcible entry or
forcible detainer the plaintiff shall only be required to show, in
addition to the forcible entry or forcible detainer complained of,
that he was peaceably in the actual possession at the time of the
forcible entry, or was entitled to the possession at the time of the
forcible detainer. The defendant may show in his defense that he or
his ancestors, or those whose interest in such premises he claims,
had been in the quiet possession thereof for the space of one whole
year continuously next before the commencement of the proceedings,
and that his interest therein is not then ended or determined; and
such showing is a bar to the proceedings. Title 78, Chap. 36, §78-36-9.
Judgment for restitution, damages, and rent -- Immediate
enforcement -- Treble damages.
(1) A judgment may be entered upon the merits or upon default. A
judgment
entered in favor of the plaintiff shall include an order for the
restitution of the premises as provided in Section 78-36-10.5. If
the proceeding is for unlawful detainer after neglect or failure to
perform any condition or covenant of the lease or agreement under
which the property is held, or after default in the payment of rent,
the judgment shall also declare the forfeiture of the lease or
agreement.
(2) The jury or the court, if the proceeding is tried without
a jury or upon the defendant's default, shall also assess the
damages resulting to the plaintiff from any of the following:
(a) forcible entry;
(b) forcible or unlawful detainer;
(c) waste of the premises during the defendant's tenancy, if
waste is alleged in the complaint and proved at trial;
(d) the amount of rent due, if the alleged unlawful detainer is
after default in the payment of rent; and
(e) the abatement of the nuisance by eviction as provided in
Sections 78-38-9 through
78-38-16.
(3) The judgment shall be entered against the defendant for the
rent, for three times the amount of the damages assessed under
Subsections (2) (a) through (2) (c), and for reasonable attorneys'
fees, if they are provided for in the lease or agreement.
(4) If the proceeding is for unlawful detainer after default
in the payment of the rent, execution upon the judgment shall be
issued immediately after the entry of the judgment. In all cases,
the judgment may be issued and enforced immediately. Title 78,
Chap. 36, §78-36-10.
Order of restitution -- Service -- Enforcement --
Disposition of personal property -- Hearing.
(1) Each order of restitution shall:
(a) direct the defendant to vacate the premises, remove his
personal property, and restore possession of the premises to the
plaintiff, or be forcibly removed by a sheriff or constable;
(b) advise the defendant of the time limit set by the court for
the defendant to vacate the premises, which shall be three business
days following service of the order, unless the court determines
that a longer or shorter period is appropriate under the
circumstances; and
(c) advise the defendant of the defendant's right to a hearing
to contest the manner of its enforcement.
(2)
(a) A copy of the order of restitution and a form for the
defendant to request a hearing as listed on the form shall be served
in accordance with Section 78-36-6 by a person authorized to serve
process pursuant to Section 78-27-58. If personal service is
impossible or impracticable, service may be made by:
(i) mailing a copy of the order and the form to the defendant's
last-known address and posting a copy of the order and the form at a
conspicuous place on the premises; or
(ii) mailing a copy of the order and the form to the commercial
tenant defendant's last-known place of business and posting a copy
of the order and the form at a conspicuous place on the business
premises.
(b) A request for hearing by the defendant may not stay
enforcement of the restitution order unless:
(i) the defendant furnishes a corporate bond, cash bond,
certified funds, or a property bond to the clerk of the court in an
amount approved by the court according to the formula set forth in
Subsection 78-36-8.5(2)(b); and
(ii) the court orders that the restitution order be stayed.
(c) The date of service, the name, title, signature, and
telephone number of the person serving the order and the form shall
be legibly endorsed on the copy of the order and the form served on
the defendant.
(d) Within ten days of service, the person serving the order
and the form shall file proof of service in accordance with Rule
4(h), Utah Rules of Civil Procedure.
(3)
(a) If the defendant fails to comply with the order within the
time prescribed by the court, a sheriff or constable at the
plaintiff's direction may enter the premises by force using the
least destructive means possible to remove the defendant.
(b) Any personal property of the defendant may be removed
from the premises by the sheriff or constable and transported to a
suitable location for safe storage. The sheriff or constable may
delegate responsibility for storage to the plaintiff, who shall
store the personal property in a suitable place and in a reasonable
manner.
(c) The personal property removed and stored shall be
inventoried by the sheriff or constable or the plaintiff who shall
keep the original inventory and personally deliver or mail the
defendant a copy of the inventory immediately after the personal
property is removed.
(4)
(a) After demand made by the defendant within 30 days of removal
of personal property from the premises, the sheriff or constable or
the plaintiff shall promptly return all of the defendant's personal
property upon payment of the reasonable costs incurred for its
removal and storage.
(b) The person storing the personal property may sell the
property remaining in storage at a public sale if:
(i) the defendant does not request a hearing or demand return of
the personal property within 30 days of its removal from the
premises; or
(ii) the defendant fails to pay the reasonable costs incurred
for the removal and storage of the personal property.
(c) In advance of the sale, the person storing the personal
property shall mail to the defendant's last-known address a written
notice of the time and place of the sale.
(d) If the defendant is present at the sale, he may specify
the order in which the personal property shall be sold, and only so
much personal property shall be sold as to satisfy the costs of
removal, storage, advertising, and conducting the sale. The
remainder of the personal property, if any, shall be released to the
defendant. If the defendant is not present at the sale, the
proceeds, after deduction of the costs of removal, storage,
advertising, and conducting the sale shall be paid to the plaintiff
up to the amount of any judgment the plaintiff obtained against the
defendant. Any surplus shall be paid to the defendant, if the
defendant's whereabouts are known. If the defendant's whereabouts
are not known, any surplus shall be disposed of in accordance with
Title
67, Chapter 4a, Unclaimed Property Act.
(e) The plaintiff may donate the property to charity if:
(i) the defendant does not request a hearing or demand return of
the personal property within 30 days of its removal from the
premises; or
(ii) the defendant fails to pay the reasonable costs incurred
for the removal and storage of the personal property; and
(iii) donation is a commercially reasonable alternative.
(f) If the property belonging to a person who is not a defendant
is removed and stored in accordance with this section, that person
may claim the property by delivering a written demand for its
release to the sheriff or constable or the plaintiff. If the
claimant provides proper identification and evidence of ownership,
the sheriff or constable or the plaintiff shall promptly release the
property at no cost to the claimant.
(5) In the event of a dispute concerning the manner of
enforcement of the restitution order, the defendant or any person
claiming to own stored personal property may file a request for a
hearing. The court shall set the matter for hearing within ten days
from the filing of the request, or as soon thereafter as
practicable, and shall mail notice of the hearing to the parties.
(6) The Judicial Council shall draft the forms necessary to
implement this section. Title 78, Chap. 36, §78-36-10.5.
Time for appeal.
(1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), either party may,
within ten days, appeal from the judgment rendered.
(2) In a nuisance action under Sections 78-38-9 through
78-38-16, any party may appeal from the judgment rendered within
three days. Title 78, Chap. 36, §78-36-11.
Amended by Chapter 141, 1992 General Session
Exclusion of tenant without judicial process prohibited --
Abandoned premises
excepted.
It is unlawful for an owner to willfully exclude a tenant from
the tenant's premises in any manner except by judicial process,
provided, an owner or his agent shall not be prevented from removing
the contents of the leased premises under Subsection 78-36-12.6(2)
and retaking the premises and attempting to rent them at a fair
rental value when the tenant has abandoned the premises. Title
78, Chap. 36, §78-36-12.
Definitions.
(1) "Willful exclusion" means preventing the tenant
from entering into the premises with intent to deprive the tenant of
such entry.
(2) "Owner" means the actual owner of the premises
and shall also have the same meaning as landlord under common law
and the statutes of this state.
(3) "Abandonment" is presumed in either of the
following situations:
(a) The tenant has not notified the owner that he or she will be
absent from the premises, and the tenant fails to pay rent within 15
days after the due date, and there is no reasonable evidence other
than the presence of the tenant's personal property that the tenant
is occupying the premises; or
(b) The tenant has not notified the owner that he or she will be
absent from the premises, and the tenant fails to pay rent when due
and the tenant's personal property has been removed from the
dwelling unit and there is no reasonable evidence that the tenant is
occupying the premises. Title 78, Chap. 36, §78-36-12.3.
Enacted by Chapter 160, 1981 General Session
Abandoned premises -- Retaking and rerenting by owner --
Liability of tenant -- Personal property of tenant left on premises.
(1) In the event of abandonment, the owner may retake the
premises and attempt to rent them at a fair rental value and the
tenant who abandoned the premises shall be liable:
(a) for the entire rent due for the remainder of the term; or
(b) for rent accrued during the period necessary to rerent the
premises at a fair rental value, plus the difference between the
fair rental value and the rent agreed to in the prior rental
agreement, plus a reasonable commission for the renting of the
premises and the costs, if any, necessary to restore the rental unit
to its condition when rented by the tenant less normal wear and
tear. This subsection applies, if less than Subsection (a),
notwithstanding that the owner did not rerent the premises.
(2)
(a) If the tenant has abandoned the premises and has left
personal property on the premises, the owner is entitled to remove
the property from the dwelling, store it for the tenant, and recover
actual moving and storage costs from the tenant.
(b)
(i) The owner shall make reasonable efforts to notify the tenant
of the location of the personal property.
(ii) If the property has been in storage for over 30 days and
the tenant has made no reasonable effort to recover it, the owner
may:
(A) sell the property and apply the proceeds toward any amount
the tenant owes; or
(B) donate the property to charity if the donation is a
commercially reasonable alternative.
(c) Any money left over from the sale of the property shall be
handled as specified in Title 67, Chapter 4a, Part 2, Standards for
Determining When Property is Abandoned or Unclaimed.
(d) Nothing contained in this act shall be in derogation of or
alter the owner's rights under Title 38, Chapter 3, Lessors' Liens.
Title 78, Chap. 36, §78-36-12.6.
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