Savannah ranks among the top evicting cities in the country.
If you're a landlord in Savannah, you never want to have to evict a tenant. It's a long, drawn-out process that isn't good for anyone involved. That being said, you must act when your investment property is put at risk.
In today's post, we'll give you a few property management tips for dealing with the landlord eviction process. Evictions are on the rise everywhere, but keep reading and we'll help you handle yours in an efficient and timely manner.
Understand Tenant Eviction Laws
Before you can evict your poor tenant, you need to have a reason and the reason needs to adhere to Georgia's tenant eviction laws. Here, you can evict a tenant for numerous reasons, but the most common are failure to pay rent, lease violations, and performing illegal activity.
Depending on the reason(s) for eviction, you may have to provide an official notice to give the tenant a chance to rectify the problem. Some situations don't require this, but you must always file the eviction in your local court. Attempting to evict a tenant without following due process is known as a "self-help eviction" and can result in severe fines and penalties.
Legal Eviction Procedures
As mentioned, there are different methods for carrying out different evictions. When your tenant is unable to pay rent - payments are considered late the day after rent is due, unless you've put a grace period in your lease - you must provide a written notice telling them to pay the rent or face eviction. How much notice you give is up to you.
When your tenant violates the lease or performs an illegal activity, the process is slightly different. For lease violations, you must provide them with a notice telling them about the eviction, but you don't have to give them the chance to rectify the issue. If illegal activity is involved, you don't need to provide any form of notice.
Eviction Notice Guidelines
Once your eviction is filed, both parties will be given a hearing date to state their case. Preparing for an eviction hearing involves gathering evidence of your tenant's wrongdoing. A few examples of evidence are:
- Proof of correspondence with the tenant
- Bank statements showing missed rent payments
- Receipts for repairs due to tenant-caused damage
- Police reports detailing illegal behavior in the unit
- Photographic evidence of damage
If your eviction is successful, the tenant will be given a final date to vacate the property. Failing to adhere to this mandate will result in forcible removal by the local authorities.
How a Property Manager Can Help
Now that you know how to properly carry out evictions, you'll be prepared to take on any delinquent tenant. Even when you understand the process, however, evictions can be stressful. If you really want to take the path of least resistance, hiring a property manager is your best bet.
At Pam T Property Management, we're Savannah's top option for property management services, including eviction protection. To learn more about how we can help you navigate evictions, contact us today.