3 Tips For Legally Evicting Tenants
If you currently own a rental property and your tenants are months behind on their rent, it's time to get them out. If you didn't get the advice of a lawyer or real estate professional before renting the house, and you used a lease agreement you found online, print it and take it to a lawyer.
You want to find out how to get them out of the space legally, and what the process will entail. Here are some tips to make the eviction process easier to deal with, and ways you can try to avoid the tenants from doing damage to the living space.
1. File for Eviction with a Lawyer
Pay a legal professional to get the tenants out, instead of trying to get the people to show up to small claims court, and before they possibly take their own legal action. They may try to say they shouldn't have to pay because living conditions weren't safe, or that you were an unsatisfactory landlord. With a lawyer you will have a strong and thorough case to execute quickly.
2. Stay Cordial with the Tenants
Don't call the tenants and threaten them or talk with inappropriate language. Instead, cordially ask them to pay for their back rent or late fees. If they don't pick up, leave a reminder message. Continue to send the tenants notices stating they are past due, and what the current fees are. This proves to the court that you kept an open line of communication with the tenants.
3. Call an Eviction Company
If you are worried about how things are going to go when you show up at the door, ready to kick the people out of the living space, call an eviction company like AA Fast Eviction Service. They will come to the residence, deliver the eviction notice, and then deal with the eviction process so you don't have to. This may spare you from having to deal with a scene. Ask the eviction company if they will change the locks on the doors, so the tenant can't get back in.
It isn't fun being a landlord when people don't pay their rent, but that property is costing you money and you need to get paid. As soon as the tenant starts falling behind on their payments, get legal advice and start the eviction process, so you don't end up having them live in the space without paying for months.