An eviction notice may come both for cause and without one.
In most cases, the latter is wrong if it occurs before the lease expires. In such situations, you must seek legal advice, as most likely, you will be entitled to compensation and may still be able to stay at the premises.
For the one with cause, it must be related to the tenant doing something that goes against the lease terms. The reason may vary but is usually associated with delayed rent, utility bills, property repairs and maintenance payments.
If you ever find yourself in a situation where you have been handed an eviction notice, you need to know that it comes with a period in which you can fix any issue or wrongdoing. To do that, there are some things that you need to do to resolve the situation in your favour.
What is an eviction notice
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So what exactly is that document? This is a formal legal process in which a landlord forces the tenants to leave his rental property. Due to the nature of this dispute, it is often time-consuming and used as a last resort.
It is essential to know that for a landlord to hand in an eviction notice, there is a process that he is required to follow. In this notice, you need to be appropriately notified of the issue that led to it and often includes what needs to be done to resolve it.
What to do if you get an eviction notice
If you ever get an eviction notice, you must consult a lawyer to confirm whether it is valid. Should the landlord have legal grounds for the notice, you must respond promptly but are not obligated to take immediate action.
Whatever happens, ensure you take care of yourself properly during this period and minimise any stress as much as possible.
Don’t leave your rental property immediately
Once you have confirmed the legality of the notice and know that you have been unable to keep your end of the contract, you should not overreact.
When faced with eviction, tenants often look for a new property and leave as soon as possible. You may not need to leave the premises depending on the reason for the notice and whether you believe you can resolve the situation.
Every eviction notice comes with a certain period that can not be less than what the laws in your area specify. If the letter is related to missed weekly or monthly payments, you may be able to catch up on rent during this period of time, thus resolving the situation.
Get familiar with your tenant rights
Now, whether you fight the notice in court or do your best to keep the period, it is essential to know your rights. While housing laws vary between different jurisdictions, the one sure thing is that your landlord can not evict you without going through the formal eviction process.
For instance, the notice mentioned above can not be reduced regardless of the situation. While it varies from place to place, a landlord can not simply change the locks on you one day and get rid of your possessions before that notice expires.
Talk to your landlord
Depending on the relationship you have with your landlord, it may be a good idea to seek an audience with him. Quite often, homeowners, especially those renting out many properties, prefer to send an eviction notice rather than have a personalised approach.
If you’re low on cash due to the rising cost of living, you can look for ways to reduce energy use to have a little bit more money and make monthly payments.
If you have received a pay or quit notice, you may want to try and negotiate the situation before taking further action. Working out a payment plan or some other compromise is not out of the question, especially since evictions are just as unpleasant for landlords.
Seek legal help
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may be entitled to free legal counsel when facing eviction. Even if that is not the case, you may seek help from local tenant organisations that offer assistance in such situations.
If facing an unlawful eviction notice, you may find a lawyer happy to represent your case and receive payment from the settlement at the end.
Another option for you would be Shelter. They are a leading housing and homelessness charity in the UK that provides free advice and support to people who are facing eviction.
Last but not least, if the issue is not about payment but perhaps property maintenance services and you can afford a solicitor, reach out to ones who specialise in housing and landlord-tenant law, as they will be able to provide tailored legal advice and represent your specific case.
Advice for moving out
If you are not able to dispute the eviction notice, you should use that time to try and arrange for alternative accommodation as soon as possible. You may want to contact private landlords or emergency housing options in your area.
Once your housing is secure, start packing and preparing your belongings for the unavoidable move.
Another aspect to consider is the terms of your contract. Even though you are getting evicted, you still have certain obligations towards your landlord and the property you occupy. To avoid having your deposit reduced, you may want to check for what part of the property maintenance you are responsible for and try to get it done as soon as possible.
The cleaning services are usually part of the tenants’ responsibility. So if this is your first time moving out, you may want to find out how to do them properly or get a professional company to do that for you.
Conclusion
Making sure that you stay on top of your responsibilities is often enough to avoid getting handed an eviction notice, but should that happen, it is vital to know how to handle it properly.
Regardless of whether you believe it is wrongful or correct, you should always look to discuss it with your landlord and try to reach an agreement. If this is not an option, seek legal advice and consult with people familiar with the local eviction law.If you need to vacate the property, consider your lease terms to secure you get your bond paid back in full. Take care of anything that is your responsibility, such as taking out the trash, removing your personal belongings, and conducting an end of tenancy cleaning before you move out.
