What can a landlord do if a tenant breaches a lease agreement?

A landlord has several options when a tenant breaches a lease agreement, but the most effective and commonly exercised option is to terminate the lease. When a tenant fails to comply with the terms set out in the lease—such as failing to pay rent or violating rules—this constitutes a breach. Terminating the lease effectively ends the tenant's right to occupy the rental property, allowing the landlord to regain control of the property and seek new tenants.

While taking the tenant to court is a valid course of action to seek damages or enforce lease terms, it typically follows the step of informing the tenant about the breach and possibly seeking termination. Changing the locks without notice is not a legal or recommended action, as this can be seen as self-help eviction, which is often prohibited by law. Therefore, terminating the lease is the primary action that a landlord can take in response to a breach of the lease agreement.