When to Evict a Problem Tenant
Landlords Say Do It Sooner Rather than Later
Landlords are legally entitled to evict a tenant when he or she violates the terms of the lease. The reasons to evict a tenant are numerous, but if the tenant signed an agreement and breaks it, they are subject to eviction.
Here are the top ten reasons landlords evict:
1. Tenant has not paid rent.
2. Tenant regularly pays rent late.
3. Tenant allows illegal activity on landlord’s property, such as drug use.
4. Tenant is engaged in illegal activity on landlord’s property, such as selling drugs.
5. Tenant keeps an unauthorized pet.
6. Tenant caused substantial damage to landlord’s property.
7. Tenant is running a business from the property.
8. Tenant is disturbing the peace.
9. Tenant is threatening others.
10. Tenant repeatedly ignores parking or trash disposal rules.
Landlords must send tenants a notice of termination or eviction, according to the laws of the state in which the property lies. Termination notice requirements vary, so check your state’s laws prior to taking adverse action. Do not attempt to enter the tenant’s unit within the notice period.
In many instances, the tenant is given a chance to correct the infraction before the court date; but in allowing this, landlords can be trapped in a cycle of missed rent/eviction notice/rent payment. If you are intent on evicting a non-paying tenant, do not accept late or partial rent payments.
Landlords sometimes fall victim to professional scammers or tenants who take advantage of them. It can be tempting to believe promises of payment or reasons why the tenant is unable to uphold the terms of the lease that they agreed to. Experienced landlords will advise that when it comes to deciding when to evict a problem tenant, sooner is always better than later. Far too often, bad behavior becomes the norm, and the tenant soon has control in the relationship.