As a landlord, you are forbidden by law from interrupting the utility services such as water or electricity, replacing door locks so that the tenant cannot enter the premises or removing any possessions that might be on the property. Carrying out any of these actions lays you open to a damages claim by the tenant or occupant.
While most leases will stipulate that in the event of a breach of any of the material conditions in the lease, this would result in the immediate end of the contract between you as the landlord and your tenant. This however does not mean you can remove the tenant from the premises. The most common problem that arises, results from the non-payment of rent on the due date which would entitle you to commence the legal process for an eviction order called a ‘Tzav Penui’ in Hebrew. Once you are in possession of the eviction order, you are entitled to receive assistance from the police and the Office for the Execution of Court Orders in order to ensure that the order is enforced and the tenant removed.
It is also important to always bear in mind that the court process takes time and defaulting tenants very often use this to their advantage in order to remain in the premises as long as possible. You need to retain the services of a lawyer who is well versed in eviction laws which very often allow for what is known as a short eviction procedure in Israeli courts in order to preserve the rights of yourself as the landlord as speedily as possible.
