According to Eviction Lab, there were over a million evictions over the last 12 months in the 10 states and 36 cities they track. New York had the most filings with Pennsylvania following close behind.
Evictions due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have been closely tracked, but some landlords may wonder what kind of effect they have today. After all, businesses have brought employees back into the workplace, and many programs pertaining to the pandemic have ended.
Here's your landlord legal guide to post-COVID evictions in Murfreesboro and how to approach them.
COVID and Evictions
When the COVID-19 pandemic first began, there was a temporary national moratorium on most evictions for nonpayment of rent. This moratorium was in reaction to the job crisis that came about due to the pandemic. Many people were forced out of their jobs or into an indefinite break without a source of income.
Many landlords received financial assistance from government programs to compensate. Renters could avoid evictions as long as they were directly impacted by stay-at-home orders.
With that said, hardships due to the pandemic are no longer a primary factor in most eviction proceedings. However, some judges may take this history into consideration during a court proceeding.
Reasons for Eviction in Murfreesboro
In some cases, maximizing your rental income means evicting tenants who refuse to pay regularly. However, you'll need just cause to evict someone. These are some of the reasons you may want to start the eviction process:
- Nonpayment of rent
- Lease violations
- Property damage or health hazards
- End of lease term
- Illegal activity
Each eviction case must align with the terms of your lease agreement. That's why it's so important to have a professional look over your lease in advance. Loopholes are your worst enemy.
Notice Requirements and Process
In Tennessee, landlords must follow certain property eviction rules when kicking out a tenant.
To begin with, they must give notice before starting the process. That means a 14-day notice for nonpayment of rent, a 30-day notice when someone has violated a lease, and 30 days when a lease term has ended. The tenant can use this time to remedy the issue and stop the process.
Eviction doesn't mean you can keep a tenant's security deposit when they're gone. You still have to obey the laws about deposits, such as using them for repairs or unpaid rent.
Finally, the landlord cannot force out the tenant on their own at any point. The only people who can handle the physical removal of a tenant after a court order is local law enforcement.
Handling Evictions in Murfreesboro
Evictions are not a fun process for either landlord or tenant. Landlords lose a source of income, and renters need to find a new place to live. That's why you should always make sure that an eviction is the only way forward, and that you do so in a legal manner.
PMI Professionals provides rental property management services throughout Murfreesboro and its surrounding communities. We offer help for residential properties, association management, and commercial properties. Contact us with any questions and to set up a consultation.
