Evictions are a major issue all across Tennessee.
In Nashville alone, there were nearly 13,000 evictions in 2022. No landlord wants to evict a tenant, but you're often left with no other choice when a tenant continues to fail to pay rent on time or damages your property.
If you're new to the eviction process, we're here to help. Today, we'll give you a short guide for evictions in Clarksville, Tennessee. The more you understand about eviction laws and the steps you must take, the smoother the whole thing will go, so keep reading and make your life as a landlord easier.
Understand Tennessee Eviction Laws
Before you officially give your tenant their notice and start the eviction process, it's best to familiarize yourself with the eviction laws in Tennessee. First, you need to know the reasons for eviction.
The two most common reasons to evict a Tennessee tenant are failure to pay rent and violation of lease agreements. If you attempt to evict a tenant for a reason that isn't accepted by the law, it'll be far more difficult to go through the process.
Speaking of the eviction process, you need to go through it in a specific way. Start by giving your tenant a quit notice, which gives them a final opportunity to rectify the situation.
Notices for Evictions
In Tennessee, you issue 14-day quit notices for different infractions. For failure to pay rent, you give a "pay or quit" notice, while lease violations are served with a "cure or quit" notice.
Before you do that, however, it's good practice to attempt to communicate with your tenant. Make sure they understand when they're approaching the final straw and try to reason with them to come to a better resolution.
If they're still combative or non-responsive to your efforts, send an official notice and prepare to go through the eviction.
Filing a Rental Eviction
When the eviction notice expires, head to the courthouse and file the official eviction. You and the tenant will both be given a court date when the eviction will be decided.
Both parties will have an opportunity to present their case in court, which is why you should gather evidence. Good supporting evidence includes things like correspondence with the tenant, proof of damage, or bank statements showing a failure to pay rent.
If your eviction is successful, the tenant will be given a date that they must vacate the property. If they fail to do so, they can be forcibly removed by the authorities and you can start looking for a new tenant.
How Property Management Can Ease the Burden
Dealing with evictions is one of the most challenging things you can go through as a landlord. Fortunately, you don't have to do it alone. With the help of a property manager's expertise, you can deal with an eviction legally and quickly.
At PMI Eagles, we've helped countless Clarksville landlords deal with delinquent tenants. Once you rid yourself of this burden, we can help you find a dream tenant with our tenant screening services. Contact us today to learn more about what we do and how we can help you.
