N.M. Stat. Ann. § 47-8-6
Recovery of damages.
Operative Text
47-8-6. Recovery of damages.
A. The remedies provided by the Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act shall be so
administered that the aggrieved party may recover damages as provided in the Uniform
Owner-Resident Relations Act. The aggrieved party has a duty to mitigate damages.
B. Any right or obligation declared by the Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act is
enforceable by action unless the provision declaring it specifies a different and limited
effect.
History: 1953 Comp., § 70-7-6, enacted by Laws 1975, ch. 38, § 6.Section 47-8-6 of New Mexico's Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act establishes that when either a landlord or a tenant suffers harm covered by the Act, that party may seek to recover damages through legal action. Importantly, the provision places a duty on the injured party to take reasonable steps to limit their own losses rather than allowing damages to accumulate unchecked. Any right or obligation created elsewhere in the Act can generally be enforced in court unless the specific provision creating it expressly limits how it may be enforced.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under NMSA 47-8-6, property owners and managers should be aware that both they and their residents have the right to pursue damages when the other party violates the Act. Compliant operators generally document any losses promptly and take reasonable steps to reduce those losses — for example, re-renting a vacated unit in a timely manner — because the mitigation duty applies to all aggrieved parties. Keeping thorough records of expenses, communications, and remediation efforts supports a clear accounting of damages if a dispute proceeds to court.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 47-8-6 of the Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act gives residents the right to seek damages when a landlord violates any provision of the Act, and those rights are generally enforceable through a court action. Tenants should be aware that the same provision imposes a duty to mitigate, meaning a resident is generally expected to take reasonable steps to reduce their own losses rather than letting harm grow. Tenants who believe their rights under the Act have been violated may consider consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand the range of enforcement paths available to them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 26, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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