In a post-pandemic world, evictions are returning to pre-pandemic levels.
As a landlord, having to evict a tenant reflects poorly on everyone. It means that your tenant was disrespectful of you and your property, but it also means that you failed to screen the tenants properly. If eviction is the only course of action, you must know how to navigate the process properly.
Today, we'll give you a guide to tackling the tenant eviction process in Livermore. Keep reading and you'll be able to evict a tenant with minimal stress so you can protect your investment.
Understand California's Eviction Laws
The best piece of landlord advice we can give is to understand California's eviction laws before engaging in the process. Evictions can be complicated and you have to do things a very particular way. Failing to adhere to the law can result in penalties and the potential failure of your eviction.
Every eviction starts with an official quit notice. Once the notice has run out, you may file the eviction in court, at which time you can start preparing for your eviction hearing in court. If it's successful, the tenant must vacate the property, leaving you to take control of it once again.
In 2019, California instituted the Tenant Protection Act. Under this law, landlords must have just cause to evict a tenant who has lived in a rental for more than 12 months. The reasons are most often nonpayment of rent, lease violations, or "no-fault" reasons, such as the landlord wanting to move into the property.
Communicate with Your Tenant
Before you get to the point of evicting a tenant, it's best to try and communicate the severity of the situation to them. The more you show leniency with a tenant, the better it reflects on you when you're forced to take them to an eviction hearing.
Sending Notices
When you decide that eviction is the only path forward, make sure you're sending the right notice. For nonpayment of rent, you send a three-day notice to pay or quit. This means that the tenant has a final warning to pay their rent within three days or you'll file the eviction with the local court.
For lease violations that are fixable, send a three-day cure or quit notice. Unfixable violations get a three-day unconditional quit notice. The tenant has three days to leave or you'll move to evict them.
Preparing for Court
In preparing for your eviction hearing, gather as much evidence as possible of the tenant's wrongdoing. Bring correspondence, evidence of property damage, bank statements, and anything else you can muster up to prove that the tenant should be evicted.
If you're successful, the tenant will be given a date to leave. Failing to do so will result in forcible removal by the local authority.
Get Help with Evictions
Even when you do everything correctly, evictions can be stressful. If you need help getting rid of a bad tenant, it might be time to hire a property manager.
PMI Alameda County is Livermore's top full-service property manager. We can help you deal with evictions, screen tenants, and care for your property. Contact us today to discuss our services and how they can help you.
