Apartment Eviction Assistance

Apartment Eviction

An eviction occurs when a landlord forces their tenant to vacate their property (such as a rental unit). This can happen for several reasons. For example, if a tenant fails to pay their rent on time, they face the consequences of eviction. Other violations, such as damage to property, excessive noise, or violations of lease terms (such as no pets or no smoking policies), may result in eviction. It is a formal legal process with court involvement.

What Does the Eviction Process Look Like?

In most states, the landlord is required to notify the tenant of the problem, usually with a formal written letter, or "notice to quit," that outlines the cause of concern. Often this notice provides the tenant with a three-day window to remedy the situation. At this point, the tenant and the landlord can communicate to resolve the issue between them. Sometimes, to avoid the lingering consequences of eviction, tenants choose to move out during this period to bypass formal eviction.

If the issue remains unresolved and the tenant ignores the notice, the landlord will proceed to file an eviction in court. After that, the tenant will be given an official court notice (think, "Tenant, you have been served"). Tenants may attend their court hearings, although this is often not required. If the judge ultimately rules in favor of the landlord, the tenant must vacate the property. If an evicted tenant refuses to leave after a specified period, a landlord can seek the assistance of law enforcement to remove the tenant and their belongings.

How Long Do You Have to Move After Eviction?

It varies by state and situation. Generally, an early notice to quit can give a tenant anywhere from three days to one month to remedy the problem or vacate. For state-specific guidelines on evacuation timelines, visit your local government website. If there is no agreement between the tenant and the landlord, court intervention can result in a period of two days to two weeks.

What Rent to Pay if Eviction?

It depends on the landlord. Many landlords seek back rent arrears, but again, this process varies by state. Some states allow landlords to pursue both eviction and back rent in one fell swoop. Regardless, it's important to understand what your landlord can and cannot do.

How Does Eviction Affect Your Credit?

If the landlord uses the courts to evict you and obtains a favorable judgment against you, the eviction result will be placed on your credit report in the Department of Public Records. This creates significant challenges when re-renting in the future - the number of landlords accepting evicted tenants is generally low, and the quality of rentals available to previously evicted tenants may be low. Any life process that benefits from a healthy credit score will definitely be affected.

Balance also notes that if you're still paying rent or fees, the landlord can use a collection agency or a small claims lawsuit to recover the money. Of course, this will also reflect in your credit score.

Conclusion: Your landlord cannot evict you without stopping the rent first. This means giving you adequate written notice in a manner that complies with state law. If you don't remove or fix the problem that prompted the notice ("cure"), the landlord can sue you for eviction. To win, the landlord must prove that you did something wrong that would justify terminating the tenancy.

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