How to Get your Tenant to Move Out

Every landlord encounters this issue at least once. Tenants that looked good on paper aren't so good in reality and you've got to get them out of your property before they cause even more problems then they already have. Maybe it's because they haven't been paying rent. It could be because they are not taking care of the property like they agreed to do. Whatever the case may be, knowing how to get a tenant to move out will help ease your stress and potentially save you thousands in costs.

Always Try To Be As Fair As Possible

Unfortunately this part of the rental business isn't always pleasant, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't still be fair. Being reasonable and professional usually brings about the desired outcome and even if you lose a few bucks while you wait, that's often less than the cost of enduring legal proceedings and collection costs to recover lost funds.

It goes back to the golden rule: treat people the way you'd like to be treated, even if they're driving you up the wall. There's a much lower chance of a negative outcome if you keep everything on the up and up throughout the process of getting tenants out of your property.

My Tenants Aren't Paying Any Rent! What Do I Do?

The most common problem that landlords face is not getting their rent on time. Sometimes a tenant will give notice about this and sometimes they won't. The bottom line is that they owe you this money, but there's a good chance you'll never get any of it, even if you file an unlawful detainer against them. The question that must be asked is this: what will it take to get the tenant who isn't paying rent to move out?

One of the most effective solutions is to pay that tenant to move out. Have your legal team meet with the problem tenants, tell them you'll pay them a pre-determined sum to have them move out of the property, and make sure part of the agreement is that they keep the property in show condition so you can quickly re-rent it. The extra money gives the tenants the ability to find somewhere new and you ultimately save more long-term.

Don't Forget About Mediation

When you've just had enough of a tenant, mediation is still a cheaper process than a full legal eviction. It's a worthwhile investment to make that will bring both parties to the table and you'll get a better outcome without having a trashed place in the end after three or four months of battling it out in court. With someone fair and impartial looking at the situation, you're still likely to come out way ahead when looking at the long-term benefits of your property.

Tenants that have financial trouble already have a lot of stress. Adding to that stress might be necessary so that you can get paying renters into your unit, but the way you handle these tenants will likely make or break your property investment. Consider these ideas about how to get a tenant to move out and you may just find that your long-term costs will drop as you implement them.