Good afternoon family,

My Tenant has been late for Rent and when I informed her that I will file for Eviction, she said she will contact her Lawyer.

What is the best way to evict such Tenants even if they pay?

Any advice is helpful and I live in Maryland.

Blessings

If you're not familiar with your state's LL / Tenant laws there is a link on this page written in blue titled "Landlord/Tenant State Laws", I suggest that you start there.

In order for any of us to offer you some meaningful advice, we would need to know things like is this month to month tenancy, a term tenancy (usually 1 year), is this their 1st time being late, what does your rental agreement say about when the rent is due, grace periods, late fees, etc.

It's never a good idea to inform a tenant that you will file for eviction, just start the require non payment eviction process for your area. In my area the 1st step is to serve them a 14 day notice to quit for non payment of rent.

Steve is right. In addition, I have to give a 5-day notice to pay. You need to know what your state requires. You must be in control, not the tenant.

Fine, let them get a lawyer if they want - they are probably just trying to scare / bully you. DON'T let them!

Adopt a policy of zero tolerance for late payment. Give written notice the very day that rent is late. Do not waver, do not shoe fear, be in charge.

So what if they get a lawyer or defend themselves? If they don't pay, they don't stay. As long as you have your facts straight and documented, you should be fine - but get an experienced eviction attorney to help you. Give all your information and documentation to him/her to handle it.

Search topics here, learn, come back & ask more.

When my tenants are late paying their rent, it is my responsibility to do the best for myself -- having the best possible outcome.

Eviction should be my last resort. Repairs, lost rent, showings, credit checks isn't too much fun!

So I have a "conversation" with my tenant. I ask them:

a) What is the reason for the hold-up in paying your rent on time?

Around half of the time we can find a solution. The other few that choose not to pay on time, have to be educated. They can:

a) Move out quickly and keep damages and cost to the minimum.

b) Get evicted and have a major ding on their credit reports that could effect their ability to secure a job, insurance rate will be elevated for those who have less than stellar credit.

Last one that said that to me ......I handed them my Lawyers business card and told them to have their lawyer contact mine.

never heard a peep again

Last one that said that to me ......I handed them my Lawyers business card and told them to have their lawyer contact mine.

never heard a peep again

Tenant: "I'm going to call my lawyer if you do X!"

Reality: Tenant binge watches last season's Judge Judy on Netflix because they KNOW there's something in there that says if the threaten a land lord with a non-existent lawyer it's state law that the LL has to back down.

*grins

All this to say your tenant is bluffing.

they have no lawyer. lawyers cost money. your first step is a demand for rent...after that GET A SPECIALIST EVICTION ATTORNEY AND LET THEM DO THEIR THING

one of my best friends is the guy that answers the phone for the largest prepaid legal plan in the US. he taught me to ask ANY lawyer that ever calls you "do you represent so and so, have you been retained". 99% of the time the answer will be no. if they are just "reaching out" they are not their lawyer and can be ignored. let them know you do not discuss the private matters of your tenants with unrelated parties and that when they DO have a retainer that you'll need that ON LETTERHEAD at which time you'll gladly take their call.

this is why i carve out or limit recovery of legal fees in my rental agreements...if a tenant rights atty sees that they lose their chubby real fast. in L.A. the shysters have taken landlords for tens of thousands in forced settlements KNOWING that they will have a shot at the asset. to get their fees guaranteed they take a lien on the attorneys fees clause that has the prevailing party awarded fees. when they see a limit on those fees they KNOW they will get nothing from the landlord OR the roach tenant.

Mike-

Mike-