When to Evict a Tenant for Nonpayment
Evictions due to nonpayment of rent have increased over the past five years. During economic downturns, people often struggle to keep up with rent payments even when they are trying to make on-time payments. These situations can be upsetting for landlords as well. Few landlords want to evict a tenant who has a generally good payment history and has always taken care of the property as soon as the tenant falls behind on rent. As a landlord, it may sometimes be worth it for you to give your tenant a chance to catch up. However, there are also times when the best course of action is to proceed with filing an eviction. An experienced Wilson County, TX landlord-tenant law attorney can help you decide what to do when you have a tenant who has stopped paying rent.
The Benefits of Giving Tenants a Chance to Pay Past-Due RentÂ
In some cases, it is better for the landlord to allow a struggling tenant with a good rental history a chance to pay past-due rent and stay in the unit. If the tenant has been with you for several years and has always paid on time, there is a fairly strong chance that the tenant will follow through with paying past-due rent and late fees and go back to making on-time payments in the future. Evicting the tenant and then replacing him will take several months or more, and you may incur costs for advertising or refurbishing the unit. If the tenant does catch up promptly, you will likely save money in the long term.
The Risks of Postponing an EvictionÂ
The major risk of offering a tenant the chance to catch up on late rent and stay in the unit is that the tenant will never pay you back and you will lose several months' worth of rent when you ultimately evict the tenant. Some tenants will take advantage of a well-intentioned landlord and will simply move out without paying rent once an eviction is filed.
If you do choose to give a delinquent tenant time to catch up, you should monitor your property more closely than usual. You will want to know if your tenant is violating any other lease terms, such as disturbing the neighbors’ peace, using drugs in the unit, or damaging the property. Tenants who are doing these things likely have no intention of paying the rent they owe and should likely be evicted without further delay.
Contact a Wilson County, TX Landlord Representation Attorney
Geoff Mayfield, Attorney at Law is committed to providing top-quality legal guidance to residential landlords. Experienced San Antonio, TX landlord evictions lawyer Geoff Mayfield will listen and provide advice based on your unique situation. Contact us at 210-535-0870 for a complimentary consultation.