There are several reasons to evict a Dallas-Fort Worth tenant. If your residents aren’t paying rent on time, violating the terms of your lease agreement, or engaging in criminal activity in your property, you’ll want to get them out of the home as soon as possible.
Most rental property owners dread evictions, and we understand. They can be complicated and time consuming. If you’re not sure of the legal process, you’ll want to consult with an attorney or a Dallas-Fort Worth property management company. Even a small mistake can set you back and cost you more. Don’t take that risk.
Every eviction in Dallas-Fort Worth starts with serving a notice. Today, we’re discussing the Notice to Vacate and what you need to know as you start the process.
Serving a Notice to Vacate
There are slightly different procedures and timelines depending on the reasons for your eviction. The most common reason to evict a tenant in Dallas-Fort Worth is for nonpayment of rent. If a tenant is violating the lease, you can usually talk about it and bring that tenant into compliance. With nonpayment of rent, however, time is really of the essence. You don’t want to waste a lot of days or weeks negotiating to get the rent paid. It’s best to serve the notice and work from there.
The written Notice to Vacate must be served to your tenants before you can file any lawsuit in court to have the tenant removed. The notice itself is not complicated. You simply state the fact that rent is late and the tenant must either catch up with rent or vacate the property. Include the amount that’s due and the deadline for payment in full before the eviction process moves forward.
Delivering or Serving the Notice to Vacate
There are legal implications to the service and delivery of your Notice to Vacate. Make sure you choose one of these specific methods for serving your tenants with the notice. Document what you’ve done and make sure you’re specific with times and dates. This will matter if the case goes to court.
You can choose one of these ways to serve your tenants:
- Physically hand the Notice to Vacate to someone at the property who is at least 16 years of age. Document that you’ve done this with a signature or a witness or a photograph.
- Tape or affix the Notice to Vacate to the inside of the front door (not a screen door). You can do this if no one answers the door while you’re trying to serve it in person. When you post the notice, make sure you mail a copy as well.
- Send the Notice to Vacate through the mail. You don’t have to use certified mail, but it’s a good way to document that it was delivered. Again, take pictures and note the date and time that you mailed the notice.
Once you have properly served your Notice to Vacate, the tenant has three days to respond. Usually, you’ll get your tenant’s attention and receive your rent in full. If not, you’ll need to file for an eviction and we strongly recommend you work with a Dallas-Fort Worth property management company.
We have some experience with eviction that you might find helpful. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please contact us at Assign Property Management
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