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HANNIBAL, MO. -- Landlords and tenants often are not informed about the basic rights and responsibilities they have toward one another. Elderly tenants especially suffer as a result of this situation.

In this KHQA Safe Family Special Report, we want to make sure seniors know their rights as a tenant.

Kevin Suffern's a managing attorney for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc. in Hannibal. He says some seniors unknowingly agree to premature termination of their leases.  For many who fall behind on their rent, landlords will send an eviction notice in the mail. It will ask that the tenant leave the property within a certain number of days.

"When you get those notices, that is a message to voluntarily leave. But what is crucial to remember is you cannot be forcibly evicted even after the 10, 20 or 30 days. The landlord can't physically remove you from your property," said Suffern.

Suffern says for a landlord to forcibly evict you, he or she must have a court order. During that time, you can get the assistance you need to get your payments in order, to prevent an eviction.