Both federal and state laws exist to protect residential tenants from unfair or illegal evictions. Laws forbidding discrimination exist on the federal level; under federal laws, a landlord may not evict a tenant because of race or color, religion, national origin, gender, familial status, or disability. A landlord may only legally evict due to nonpayment of rent or a lease violation, or upon expiration of a lease term, and evictions are only legal when ordered by a court. Current laws do not allow a landlord to evict without the court's consent, and landlords who hire third parties to harass, intimidate, or attempt to remove tenants from their homes are in violation of eviction laws. Those who have been victims of illegal evictions have the right to sue for damages under both federal and state law. Tenants also have the right to defend themselves in eviction hearings and argue against eviction.