As much as you may love being a landlord, evictions are an unfortunate reality of property management. Around 2.3 million Americans are evicted every year. As a property manager or owner, you want to be sure that you are complying with local, state, and federal laws when you undertake tenant evictions.
Next, we'll provide a tenant eviction guide that can make the process go smoother. We'll share proven tenant eviction tips so you don't end up with delays or legal trouble when you remove problematic tenants.
When Are Evictions Needed?
Even with proper screenings and tenant interviews, it can be nearly impossible to avoid the occasional eviction. Landlords should consider evictions as the last possible resort.
Tenants are often able to catch up on rent with certain accommodations. Here are a few examples of when an eviction may be called for.
Property Damage
If a tenant is causing significant property damage, the tenant may be evicted under certain circumstances. Smoking indoors, breaking landlord furniture, and destroying walls can be grounds for evictions.
You'll want to ensure that you documented the condition of the home or apartment before you rent it out.
Unapproved Subletting
If your tenant is renting your property to someone else, you may have grounds for evicting that tenant. Make sure that your contract explicitly prohibits subletting before you enforce the sub-renting violation. Subletting undermines your ability to make a living by controlling who pays rent for your property.
Nonpayment of Rent
This may be the most clear-cut reason you have to evict someone. As the property owner or renter, you are on the hook for property taxes and other expenses related to a home or apartment. Failure to pay rent represents a breach of contract on the part of the tenant.
How to Handle Evictions
Managing tenant evictions begin by understanding the laws that protect tenants in certain circumstances. Most COVID-related eviction moratoriums have been lifted, but your city or state may still have such a policy. You can check with local courts (usually municipal courts) to see what policies your city or town has in place.
If evictions are allowed, you'll need to verify that you have legal grounds for evicting a tenant. Again, check with local and state laws to confirm specific laws.
Our next piece of tenant Eviction advice is to provide a clear eviction notice. The notices can include a date of eviction if rent is not paid. If rent is not the issue, an eviction notice can give a time period for the tenant to remedy the issue (like a sublet roommate) before an eviction occurs.
Once that date passes, you can file for eviction. Once a court grants the eviction, local law enforcement may carry out the actual eviction.
Learn More About Evictions
When evictions do come up, you'll have a better understanding of how to handle them. Check the applicable laws for your city and state before beginning the eviction process, and remember to never handle a forceable eviction yourself.
Are you looking for a property management company that can handle management, investment, and real estate services? We offer all of that and more. Contact our office today to see how we can help you.
