While evicting a tenant can be very stressful, by knowing the steps involved, you can eliminate much of the frustration and fear that new landlords often face. With that in mind, always make sure you follow your lease to the letter and hold your tenants to it; Failing to do so can result in your tenants taking advantage of you and potentially wasting a lot of money and time.
Step by step guide to evict a tenant:
- First, you’ll want to have a good understanding of both your lease and local laws. Your lease must, of course, comply with all local laws and you must put all the terms in writing depending on how the lease will occur. A basic lease will usually not include many important specific clauses that will save you some headaches at some point. Be sure to get the assistance of a competent real estate attorney in drafting your leases to cover your bases. Some of the most common reasons for eviction include nonpayment of rent and other violations of your lease.
- You’ll want to make sure you provide the tenant with proper written notice that you intend to terminate their tenancy through a Notice to Quit; Of course, procedures may vary depending on your location, so be sure to follow state and/or local laws.
- If the tenant has not complied with the terms of the Notice to Quit, either by moving out of the premises or by correcting any problems contained within, it will be time to file an eviction lawsuit. Take great care to keep careful documentation of all documents you gave the tenant and other information, including payment records, photographic evidence of damage, repair bills, copies of eviction notices, etc. If you have never evicted a tenant before, the best course of action would be to hire a real estate eviction attorney.
IMPORTANT NEWS: NEVER do a “self-help” eviction, doing things to try to force your tenant out, such as turning off the power or water, changing the locks, dumping your property, or making the property uninhabitable, as these actions are not They will kindly reflect. soon!