We all know that landlords have several roles and tasks. Managing their properties alone can take up most of their time. They have to perform inspections, attend to the tenant complaints and requests, and make sure that everything is working accordingly.
With all the things that they have to do, they barely have enough time to deal with nuisance tenants. Unfortunately, they have to make time for these problems. It is best to deal with it as early as possible before it turns into a bigger one. I’m talking about the act of evicting tenants. A landlord should not have to endure having a delinquent tenant. If they are violating the terms of the agreement, it is justifiable for the landlord to evict them.
If a landlord plans on evicting a renter, he should know that the process will take time. How long? It varies, but we can estimate how long it will last.
• Location matters
The eviction process will vary depending on where the business is located because state laws will vary. Landlords must watch out for the specific eviction ordinances in their areas.
• How long does it take?
The eviction process will take from as fast as two weeks to three or more months, depending on the state. Some States have more steps compared to others. The duration of the eviction is determined by three factors:
1. Type of property
2. The reason why the tenant is getting evicted
3. History of violations
The process involves a series of steps to achieve the purpose, and each step will take time. Let’s discuss the steps one by one to determine the amount of time it will take.
Step One: Serving the Notice
If the landlord has decided to evict a tenant, he is required to serve a written notice. It is a formal way of letting the tenant know that he is on the brink of losing his house.
There are different types of eviction notices, and some grant the tenant chances to correct their violations. For example, a tenant has not paid rent for several months despite multiple reminders. It is a clear violation of the lease agreement. The landlord can serve him a pay-or-quit notice, which will state the number of days he has to settle the payment or else face eviction. The number of days will depend on the local state laws.
Step Two: Filing a court complaint
This is the fastest and easiest step. If the tenant is unable to or refuses to resolve the problem, the landlord can file an official complaint with the court.
Step Three: Tenant Response
In most states, the tenant is provided with a specific number of days (usually five days) to respond to the eviction notice. During this time, they can file a motion to defend their side. They can provide evidence to justify their actions and why they should not face eviction.
If the court feels that the evidence is sufficient, the eviction will not push through. If not, the process will continue.
Step Four: Court Proceedings
The court would set a schedule for the hearing if they deemed it necessary. It is, usually, set within twenty days after receiving the complaint. It is possible to go beyond twenty days, depending on how busy your jurisdiction is.
Step Five: Court Decision
Eventually, the court will come up with a decision, and the next steps will depend on that. If the landlord wins, he can ask the local sheriff to carry out the eviction and have the tenants vacate the property immediately. In some cases, the judgment will dictate the number of days the tenant has before he leaves.
If the tenant wins, they have the right to continue renting for the landlord.
If the landlord is lucky, the whole process will only take a little over two weeks. However, some factors can delay the process, such as not having enough evidence, the length of time provided for the tenant to resolve the problem, and if the tenant refuses to leave.
It will take up a lot of a landlord’s time to go through the eviction process. The good thing is, he can hire a leasing agent like yourself to help him save time. They can hire you to search for new tenants to replace the evicted ones.
Help them save time by posting their properties online on platforms like Padleads. You can even syndicate those listings to other sites and attract more tenants. Not only will you find a tenant for them, but you also helped them utilize their time for other matters.