3 Major Mistakes Landlords Make When Evicting Tenants

Posted on: 15 September 2015

If you have recently purchased rental property and have decided to join the ranks of landlords who manage their own rentals, you may be wondering how you should proceed in the event that you will someday have to serve eviction papers on a tenant. Unfortunately, this is something that most landlords will have to face at one time or another, and many of them make mistakes that prolong the eviction process and otherwise make it harder on themselves. Following are five of the most common mistakes that fledgling landlords make when evicting errant tenants.

Turning off Utilities

Eviction is a stressful process that can cause people to err in judgement and even to act in anger. Landlords sometimes turn off utilities in an effort to encourage tenants to vacate the property, but this can land you in hot legal water. This is not permitted in any of the 50 states, and in some states such as California, the tenant may have grounds to file a civil lawsuit against you.

Accepting Partial Payments

Many landlords feel that accepting partial rent payments is better than getting nothing at all, but it usually only prolongs the inevitable. Part of the problem is that once you accept a partial payment from a tenant, you set a precedent for leniency that may lead to tenants feeling that they can take advantage of you. Possible exceptions may be made for a long-term tenant who is experiencing extreme circumstances. If you decide to go that route, make sure that expectations are extremely clear concerning when the remaining rent will be paid.

Not Knowing Your State's Landlord/Tenant Laws

Undesirable tenants are frequently extremely well-versed concerning applicable landlord/tenant laws in their jurisdiction, and some of them even make a practice of dragging out the eviction process as long as possible in order to get as much free rent out of the situation as they can. Not knowing the laws may cause you to make mistakes that will give them more time or even provide them with grounds to contest the eviction. For instance, the termination process has to be handled according to state regulations, and failing to do so can possibly invalidate the eviction.

Some landlords choose to bypass potential problems with evictions and other tenant issues by hiring a property management company to oversee their investments. However, others prefer a more hands-on approach. You can have the best of both worlds by using professional eviction notice services to handle evictions for you. Because they know the laws and are not emotionally involved, they'll get your tenants out as quickly as possible while following the letter of the law.

For more information, contact AA Fast Eviction Service or a similar company.

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