There's no denying that owning rental property is a great investment.
It can also be stressful. After all, managing your property and dealing with tenants can sometimes feel like a full-time job. This is especially true when it comes to the need for tenant evictions.
Every rental property owner loves renting units to great tenants who treat the property with respect and pay their rent on time each month, and yet bad tenants don't provide the same experience. In fact, a really bad tenant can turn your life into a nightmare.
That's why you need to understand common tenant eviction myths in Southern California so that you can separate truth from fiction. Keep reading to learn more from our tenant eviction guide.
You Can Immediate Evict a Tenant When Rent Is Late
It's important to understand that evictions typically take time. In other words, you cannot kick someone out of their rental unit that instant they are late on paying rent.
The truth is that you can't evict a tenant until you've filed a case in court against the tenant. The court must rule in the landlord's favor and then provide a court order demanding the tenant vacate the property within a specified period of time.
There's No Room for Negotiation
This is another of the biggest tenant eviction myths. The simple truth is that you can't simply evict someone without first allowing them to negotiate the payment or the amount of time they have to leave.
When a tenant falls behind on rent, you are better off offering flexibility as they catch up rather than facing the expense and frustration of taking them to court.
You Have the Right to Keep Their Personal Property
When you evict a tenant, you cannot legally keep their personal property. You must give them a specific window of time to reclaim their possessions before tossing everything out.
Only a Person Listed On the Lease Is a Tenant
You might discover that someone is living in a rental unit who is not on the lease. This can create an uncomfortable situation. After all, as a landlord, you might believe that you can tell them to leave.
But when an individual is living on your property, they have all the same rights as the person whose name is on the lease. This means you will need to file a formal conviction complaint and receive a court order from a judge telling them to move out.
A Guide to Common Myths About Evictions
Owning rental property is a great way to build wealth for retirement, but managing tenants isn't easy. Fortunately, this guide to myths about tenant evictions will help make the process of separating the good apples from the bad a bit less stressful.
Please contact us today to learn how we can help streamline the day-to-day process of managing your rental property in Southern California.
