Why have you decided to terminate your tenant? Have they been extremely noisy and caused disturbances with your neighbors? Are they not paying their rent on time? No matter what the reason, it’s not a simple procedure to get rid of a tenant, but there are steps you can take to help ease and make the process a little smoother.
You can’t even begin to think about evicting your tenant unless you’ve been documenting instances where you’ve been a nuisance to the neighbors, didn’t pay your rent on time, or any other type of instances that are grounds for eviction. You cannot stand in front of a judge and expect the courts to rule in your favor if you do not have documentation to support your decision to evict the tenant. Document all conversations you have with your tenant, properly record all late payments, and document all violations reported by neighbors. All of these documents are extremely helpful in getting rid of your troublesome tenant.
If you are evicting your tenant because they do not pay rent on time, or do not pay rent on time, send the tenant a 3-day payment or quit first. If you don’t get money, or even a response by the end of the third day, send an unlawful detainer packet to your attorney. Your lawyer will give them the documents they need to pay the rent (if that’s what you decided to offer the tenant) or to move out by a specific date. If you are determined to evict your tenant, do not accept any type of check because if you deposit it and it bounces, you may have to start the eviction process all over again. If you have a rental mailbox, be sure to check it every day. If a tenant has left a check at the box and you do not return it within 24 hours, it is assumed to be “accepted” and you may have to start the eviction process all over again.
Once the tenant has vacated the premises, make sure nothing of value is left behind. If so, and it prevents you from renting the apartment to someone else. You must store the items for 15 days, then you must put the items up for auction. If the tenant wants to pick up his things within the initial period of 15 days, he is obliged to let him in to pick it up, but under no circumstances will he give him the key. If they come in and close the door and want to stay, then you have to start the eviction process all over again.
I hope this has helped you learn a little more about the eviction process and the steps you need to take to evict a tenant and keep them out of your rental property. It may seem like a lot of diligence on your part, but it’s worth it if a problem tenant is no longer a problem!