Tenant Eviction Reasons

Evicting a renter might be difficult. Learn about the many grounds for eviction and options here.

What you will discover:

What are the most often cited causes for eviction?
Can I remove a renter who breaches the terms of the lease?
Can a renter be evicted if they do not pay their rent on time?
What can a landlord do if a tenant causes property damage?
Is it permissible to evict a renter who violates the law?

There are regulations that must be followed when a landlord wishes to evict a tenant. In certain locations, landlords may require a legal basis to evict a tenant regardless of the conditions of the lease. The conditions of a business lease will often give specific situations and remedies for difficulties that might result in eviction for commercial tenants. The following are some of the most prevalent grounds for evicting a renter.

What are the most often cited causes for eviction?

The most prevalent cause for eviction for both residential and commercial tenants is nonpayment of rent. All evictions of residential renters must adhere to rigorous state and municipal legislation. These rules are intended to safeguard people from being evicted from their houses without a court order. These safeguards ensure that landlords cannot remove tenants for discriminatory reasons, and that residential renters are typically safeguarded against evictions for no legal cause. Evictions are classified into two types: at-fault evictions and no-fault evictions.

The following are the most prevalent causes for an at-fault eviction of a residential tenant:

Rent is not being paid.
Failure to respect lease agreement restrictions.
Not leaving once the lease expires.
Interfering with the capacity of other tenants to utilize the property.

Alternatively, residential renters may be evicted without cause. These may occur even if the renter follows all of the regulations and pays on time, as the term indicates. A property owner, for example, may be permitted to evict a renter if they wish to move in, have a family member move in, or sell or improve the property. There are safeguards in place for renters in this case. However, they differ from one region to the next. Before pursuing any form of eviction, it is a good idea to consult with a lawyer.

The eviction procedure for commercial premises often provides fewer, if any, safeguards for renters. It is crucial to understand that commercial evictions are handled in the same way that business contracts are. This implies that a landlord may evict a business renter for any reason. However, there may be financial ramifications for breaching a Commercial Lease without cause. If a business tenant is unable to pay their rent, they may be inclined to depart voluntarily in order to save expenses and losses. To terminate a Commercial Lease early, consult with an attorney first to understand the possible legal repercussions and remedies.

Can I remove a renter who breaches the terms of the lease?

A landlord may be allowed to remove a tenant who breaches the Lease Agreement. However, unless it is a major infringement that cannot be repaired, a single infraction may not be sufficient. However, habitual infractions or consistently disrupting other tenants may be substantial enough to justify eviction, particularly if an option to rectify the situation was granted.

For example, if your leased apartment has a no-pets policy and you learn that your tenant has a pet dog, you may be allowed to begin the eviction procedure and submit an Eviction Notice. An Eviction Notice normally gives a renter a certain amount of time to address the reason for eviction. So, if that renter rehomes their dog within the time frame specified in the notice, you may be unable to evict them. The same might be said for failing to pay rent on time, raising a commotion, or causing damage to the property. If a tenant resolves the issue indicated in an Eviction Notice, an eviction for that reason may be impossible.

Can a renter be evicted if they do not pay their rent on time?

Some towns and counties give a grace period for rent payments, however tenants who are consistently late are often evicted. It may not be clear, but if your renter has not paid rent for a month or many months, you have grounds for eviction.

If your renter is late on their rent, you should send them a Late Rent Notice. It might be a simple error, or there could be something more going on. You might also give the renter a Late Rent Payment Agreement to enable them to catch up on rent over time. Nonetheless, maintain a duplicate of all correspondence with the renter. If your case goes to court, you will be able to show that you offered the renter an opportunity before proceeding with the eviction.

What can a landlord do if a tenant causes property damage?

It is critical to discern between damage and typical wear and tear. Scuffs on the floor, worn-out carpet, or fingerprint smudges near light switches are not normally considered damage. But if your renter destroys a wall or drives their vehicle through the garage door, that is a different thing.

Keep in mind that deducting typical wear and tear from a security deposit may be prohibited by state or municipal legislation. Furthermore, your renter may be able to undertake the repairs themselves or by hiring a professional. When anything goes wrong, it may be worth it to let the renter pay for the repairs and remain. In the case of the garage door, if your renter chooses a replacement and clears it with you before paying for the door and installation, you may want to rethink filing an eviction. That being stated, your renter should not make any big improvements or repairs to your property unless they have cleared them with you or are permitted to do so under your Lease Agreement.

You may be entitled to proceed with an eviction if a renter refuses to repair or pay for harm they caused. If you do not wish to evict the tenant, you may file a conventional lawsuit to recover the expenses of damages and repairs. However, as part of an eviction process, you may request that the renter pay for the damages and repairs in addition to asking the court to remove the tenant.

Is it permissible to evict a renter who violates the law?

While it is generally possible to remove a tenant who is breaching the law, a landlord’s options are limited. Furthermore, the breached laws must be connected to property. A landlord, for example, cannot remove a renter because police detained them for theft from a nearby market. A landlord, on the other hand, may be allowed to remove a tenant if they are selling narcotics from their property.

Even in these rare cases, a landlord cannot physically evict a renter. Changing the locks, turning off utilities, or doing other acts to prevent the renter from utilizing the property may result in the tenant filing a constructive eviction lawsuit. These accusations might have serious legal ramifications for landlords. Landlords may wish to consult with an attorney before recording what they saw, notifying police, and initiating the eviction process.