Skip to Content

Eviction Process from the Landlord’s View

Serving an eviction notice can be overwhelming–For both sides. Let’s take a look at the eviction process from the landlord’s point of view…

Whether your resident forgot to pay rent, recently lost a job, or has broken community rules and has been unwilling to rectify the situation; you can receive an unlawful detainer and evict the resident from your property. Most residents facing eviction are being evicted due to non-payment of rent. However, you can also evict residents for violating the terms of their lease, creating a safety hazard, or other landlord disputes. Landlord/Tenant law can vary greatly between jurisdictions so it is important to consult with a lawyer for legal advice if you are obtaining an unlawful detainer against a resident. The eviction process can vary from case to case.

Below we will go over the 3 most common reasons to evict a tenant.

  1. Non Payment of Rent
  2. Violation of Lease
  3. Health and Safety Issues

eviction process real property managementNon Payment of Rent

If you are evicting a resident for non-payment of rent, there is a strict process that you must follow.

3 Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit: The resident must first be served a notice to pay rent or quit which gives them 3 days to make payment. California is very strict on what can be listed on these types of notices which is why its good to hire a property management company or an lawyer to assist you.  If you post the wrong information or omit information that must be included, the notice can be made invalid by the court which will cancel the eviction process and delay removal of the tenant even further.

Unlawful Detainer: If the resident does not make payment within the number of days indicated on the notice, then you may file an unlawful detainer with the court. You must wait for the Notice to Pay Rent or Quit to expire before filing an unlawful detainer.

Partial Payment: Some landlords choose to accept partial payment with promise from the resident that the rest of the funds will be paid by a set date and time. If you choose to take a partial payment, immediately post a new notice to pay rent or quit for the remaining balance of rent due. If you do not serve a new notice, the original notice is void when you accept any funds. By serving a new notice, you are protecting your ability to evict if the resident does not pay the remaining rent by the agreed upon date.

Non-Payment for Needed Repairs: Some residents believe that they can legally withhold rent if there are requested repairs that have not been made on the home. This is not always the case, but sometimes funds can be withheld in an escrow account or within the court system if the repairs requested are to maintain the home in habitable conditions. Consult with your property manager or an attorney to make sure that you are legally able to deny the work requests that are in question. If the property manager advises you that work is required, immediately post notice to the resident and repair any necessary items. If the resident still refuses to pay rent, continue with eviction proceedings.


Violation of the Lease

eviction process real property managementIf you believe a resident is in violation of their lease agreement, it is best to double check their actual agreement. Sometimes lease agreements are altered over time and it is best to be sure of the violation and its validity to the resident in question before action is taken.  If you find that a resident is in violation of their agreement, you can serve them a Notice to perform or quit.

 

Your resident will then be able to do one of the following:

  1. Rectify the situation immediately
  2. Negotiate with you for an exception to the rule (increased deposit, written permission, etc)
  3. Mutually agree upon move out terms

For example, the lease states that there are no pets allowed in the home. The resident acquired a pet without seeking prior approval.  Once receiving a notice from you, the resident’s three options would be to get rid of the pet immediately (perhaps a friend or family member could take the pet), try and negotiate an additional pet deposit or cleaning to cover any concerns of damage, or receive temporary permission to keep the pet if they put in notice to move within an agreed upon amount of time.

If they choose to do none of the above, you can file an unlawful detainer for breach of lease. Be careful with this type of eviction though. It is much less straight forward than non-payment of rent. This is more of a he said/she said situation so documentation is key. Photos, conversation logs, letters to rectify the situation, and a copy of the perform or quit will be vital in your case.  This is why visiting the property occasionally with inspections is a good idea.  Real Property Management East San Gabriel Valley will do occasional visits to ensure pets are not in the property.

eviction process real property managementHealth and Safety Issues

If the home was within habitable conditions when the resident moved in, but is no longer in suitable condition due to their actions, you can evict them. Whether the health hazard is due to drug use in the home, hazardous materials, hoarding, insect infestation, or other damage it is all counted the same. The resident could try to slow down the eviction process and prolong tenancy by making repairs to bring the home back up to code, but it will not guarantee that they will get to stay.

Please note that you are legally responsible for providing habitable conditions in the housing that you provide.  If the home is inhabitable due to poor management, the resident may have a case against you. Make sure that all repairs requested have been completed in a timely manner and that you have attempted to rectify any habitability conditions prior to evicting for this purpose.


Contact an attorney immediately

eviction process real property managementIf you have to file an unlawful detainer notice, do not try and do it yourself. Many cities, counties, and states have specific regulations and guidelines that must be strictly followed in order for you to have a solid case. One fowl up can cost you time and money so it is best to ensure that the process is done correctly the first time. An attorney will help you to prepare the unlawful detainer and ensure that your notices and documentation were served correctly. The court system can be confusing and if the proper forms are not filled out in a timely manner, you may end up unable to secure judgment and move forward with your rental property. Real Property Management East San Gabriel Valley has great attorneys we have worked with for many years that can help with any type of eviction.

 

Last Words of Advice

eviction process real property management

Sometimes the best thing for your resident to do is move out immediately. If for some reason they are unable to move right away, they may come to you to create an exit strategy that works for both parties. Make sure that you put this agreement in writing and that both parties sign. In these instances, communication is key. If they are honest and proactive it may be in your best interest to negotiate with them rather than proceed with eviction.

Regardless of if the resident is going to push for a trial or not, Document Everything:

  1. Take photos of areas that are in question
  2. Pull together documentation of maintenance requested and performed
  3. Make a copy of the lease agreement, highlighting the points you feel validate your case
  4. Keep a written record of the conversations that you have with the resident, make sure you log date, time, and location of all conversations

These will all be valuable tools if you have to go to court, plus it is just good practice for any landlord.

One advantage to hiring a professional property manager is not having to deal with the hassle of the eviction process. Real Property Management East San Gabriel Valley understands the local and state laws dealing with eviction, not to mention the fair housing laws and other best practices for finding good tenants, so you, the property owner, hopefully never have to deal with an eviction.

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.

The Neighborly Done Right Promise

The Neighborly Done Right Promise ® delivered by Real Property Management, a proud Neighborly company

When it comes to finding the right property manager for your investment property, you want to know that they stand behind their work and get the job done right – the first time. At Real Property Management we have the expertise, technology, and systems to manage your property the right way. We work hard to optimize your return on investment while preserving your asset and giving you peace of mind. Our highly trained and skilled team works hard so you can be sure your property's management will be Done Right.

Canada excluded. Services performed by independently owned and operated franchises.

See Full Details