An eviction notice is a formal letter written by a landlord or property manager to the tenant asking them to comply with the terms of the lease or vacate the apartment they are renting. You’ll get an eviction notice if you fail to meet the terms of your rental agreement.
It may sound like a scary term, so we are going to break it down for you in detail.
Common reasons for an eviction
Renters have rights. Landlords cannot lock you out of your apartment or evict you without proper notice first. Legally, landlords must give you a standardized, written eviction notice first and follow state laws and procedures. Basically, you’ll get a formal letter that lists the reasons why you’re being evicted.
These are the most common reasons for eviction:
- Failure to pay rent
- Repeated late rent payments
- Repeated bounced checks for rent payments
- Damaged property
- Violation of the lease
- Unauthorized pets or additional occupants
- Illegal activity
- Disrupting other tenants or several complaints from other tenants
- Holdover or lease expires and the tenant refuses to move out
What does an eviction notice look like?
You’ll probably have some questions if you receive an eviction letter. This is what the notice should include:
- Your name and address
- The landlord’s name and address
- Your contact information
- The lease information
- Reasons for eviction
- Resolutions to the problem, if applicable
- When, if applicable, the problem needs resolving by
- Date tenant must leave the property
- Proof that the landlord served the eviction notice to the tenant
Here is a sample eviction notice that will give you a good idea of what one looks like if it ever shows up on your door.
Sample eviction notice
The layout and details may vary, but in general, eviction notices include the same information. Below is a sample eviction notice for reference:
Apartment Community ABC
John Doe
Apartment Community ABC Apartment #1
Dear John Doe,
On DATE, you received a formal written warning regarding your failure to pay rent.
Your lease, signed on DATE, clearly states that your “failure to pay rent on the 1st of the month” violates the lease.
Because of your failure to uphold the rental agreement and resolve the issue, Apartment Community ABC is now submitting this eviction notice on DATE.
You have seven days to vacate the premises. You can find state requirements about eviction below.
If you have questions regarding this eviction notice, please contact the rental office and ask to speak to me directly,
Sincerely,
Property Manager Name
What happens after an eviction notice is served?
Once an eviction notice makes its way to a tenant, there are a few things that can happen during the eviction process.
Once the eviction notice is with the tenant, the tenant has a specific amount of time (outlined in the eviction notice) to resolve the problem.
Next, the complaint is filed in court and the landlord and tenant will appear in court. The judge will come to a verdict ruling whether the tenant stays or goes.
Keep in mind that the format of eviction notices may vary state-to-state based on legal requirements.
Can I rent an apartment after being evicted?
You may worry about the odds of being able to rent again if you’ve received an eviction notice. Evictions indicate that you failed to comply with your lease — many landlords will see this as a red flag.
It is still possible to rent an apartment after an eviction. However, landlords will see the eviction on your record when they run a background check so it might be more difficult in some cases.
Finding apartments that accept evictions
If you’re looking for an apartment and you have an eviction notice on your record, here are a few tips that may help you find apartments that accept evictions.
- Check whether or not the apartment complex requires a background check
- Find a private owner who rents properties
- Work with an apartment locator or rental realtor who can help navigate the situation
- Have a co-signer or guarantor on your new lease
- Work to build up your credit score
- Provide several references
- Tell the truth about what happened with the eviction
- Pay rent upfront, if possible
Renting after an eviction
An eviction notice is a blip on your rental history, but it doesn’t mean you’ll never rent again. Understanding what is an eviction notice, how to deal with it and what to do after an eviction can help you navigate your next apartment rental.
The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or financial advice. Readers are encouraged to seek professional legal or financial advice as they may deem it necessary.
Source: rent.com