Is your tenant causing problems? You may want to kick him or her out immediately, but you should be careful to follow all the proper legal procedures. You do not want a lawsuit on your hands. If you infringe on the rights of your tenant, you could be in big trouble.
In fact, you should go above and beyond following the legal procedures. Before you begin the formal eviction process, you should follow these tips to try to resolve any problems with your tenant first.
1. Make sure you are meeting your responsibilities
As a landlord, you have certain duties to your tenant. You may not want to warn a tenant of eviction if you have not been holding up your end of the bargain. For example, have you made sure the property is in good condition and that there are no hazards? If the property is not in good repair or sanitary condition, make sure you meet these requirements before moving forward.
2. Determine if you have a reason to evict your tenant
According to the New York State Unified Court System, you need a legal reason to kick your tenant out if the lease is still ongoing. Some of these legal grounds include if your tenant is:
- Not paying rent
- Damaging the property
- Using the property for dealing drugs
To determine if you have the right to evict a tenant, ask a landlord-tenant law attorney.
3. Try to resolve the problem without eviction first
Removing a tenant from your property takes time and money. If you can avoid this, you may be better off. Try simply talking with your tenant and attempt to settle the issue outside of court. You may be able to mediate or arbitrate.
Being a landlord can be stressful and frustrating, especially with disrespectful tenants. If you try these three steps and they do not work, you may need to file for eviction.
