Need to do an Eviction

Q. I have a tenant in one of my properties that I would like to evict.  He is chronically late on the payments and this month he has not paid at all.  I am afraid to go through an eviction because I have heard it could take six months!  What should I do?

A. First of all, you should not be afraid to do an eviction.  The most important thing is that you handle it correctly.  Most “horror stories” that I hear regarding extremely long evictions can be traced back to something the landlord didn’t do in a timely manner or in the correct way.  If your tenant hasn’t paid rent this month you can serve him with a 3-day Notice to Pay or Quit.  After the 3rd day, if he hasn’t paid the rent, you can then serve an Unlawful Detainer and proceed with the eviction.  Another option you might choose is to serve a 30-Day Notice. After the 30 day period is up, you may then file an Unlawful Detainer if the tenant has still not vacated the property. 

If you have any questions concerning your rental property, please call my office anytime at (805) 474-0100. I always enjoy hearing from you! Nancy Puder is the property manager and owner of Signature Properties, 124 S. Halcyon Rd #D, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. Service areas are The Five Cities/Beach areas, SLO, Nipomo and Santa Maria.