What is the primary purpose of the doctrine of retaliatory eviction?

The primary purpose of the doctrine of retaliatory eviction is to protect tenants from being evicted in retaliation for exercising their legal rights, particularly when they report housing code violations or assert their rights as tenants. This legal principle ensures that a landlord cannot evict a tenant simply because the tenant has made a complaint about the condition of the rental property or engaged in other legally protected activities.

In cases where tenants report issues such as unsafe living conditions, filing a complaint with a government agency, or requesting necessary repairs, the doctrine seeks to prevent landlords from taking adverse actions against them as a form of punishment. This protects tenants and encourages them to assert their rights without fear of losing their home.

The other options do not correctly address the purpose of retaliatory eviction. A landlord evicting a tenant for any reason does not take into account the tenant's right to report issues without facing negative consequences. The notion of a tenant evicting a landlord is not aligned with the typical landlord-tenant relationship where the landlord holds the authority to evict. Lastly, specifying a waiting period before claiming retaliation does not reflect the immediate protections that the doctrine provides in response to retaliatory actions by landlords.