I have a friend who is in a peculiar situation. She rents a guest house, and the lot also has a main house that is occupied by individual room tenants as well. My friend became unemployed recently has been unable to pay her rent in full. She had anticipated moving out by Aug 31st, but her finances have not allowed that to happen, and she told the LL she would try to be out by the 15th, but could not guarantee it.
Herein lies the situation for which she is asking advice.
The LL has decided to try and enlist the OTHER tenants assistance in urging my friend to move out. In doing so, the LL has turned off the satellite TV service and has said that if the other tenants can get my friend to sign an agreement to move out on the 15th of this month, then and only then will she turn it back on (or else it stays off until my friend vacates voluntarily or otherwise). Essentially, she is depriving the OTHER tenants of a service that they have already paid for in order to blackmail them into encouraging this other person to move out.
The specific wording of that agreement is as follows:
Would signing such an agreement affect my friend's right to possession? Is something like this legally enforceable outside a court hearing? Would the LL now have the right to remove her on the 15th if she is unable to vacate by that date, or would she still be entitled to the same legal eviction process before being forcibly removed from the premises?
(TENANT NAME) has sworn to me and promise and agree to vacate the premises located at (RENTAL ADDRESS) on or before September 15, 2010. And agree to hold this document legally binding.
SIGNED: __________________ (tenant name)
SIGNED: __________________ (landlord name)
WITNESS: _____________________ (witness name)
.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not trying to say she DESERVES to stay without paying, just wondering about protecting her right NOT be forcibly evicted and removed from the house involuntarily without due process through the courts in the event should we get to that point.
Thank you in advance for your response.

