Tenant disputes are the main cause of landlord stress.
Texas has seen its fair share of evictions over the last few years - 270,000 in 2022 alone. As a landlord, you never want to evict a tenant, but sometimes you have little choice in the matter. Protecting yourself and your property has to be the priority.
A lot can be avoided with proper lease enforcement. When you and a tenant mutually sign a lease agreement, you're both beholden to it. If your tenant does something outside the purview of the lease, you can take action.
Today, we'll explain the importance of lease enforcement, so keep reading and learn how to avoid tenant disputes the right way.
What Is Lease Enforcement?
When your tenant signs the lease agreement, they're agreeing to comport themselves in a certain way. Every lease is different, but some common clauses in a rental agreement include rules about pets, noise, maintenance, and when to pay rent.
If your tenants have any issues with the lease, they must bring it up before signing. Choosing to break the lease gives the landlord reason enough to file an eviction. Simply put, lease enforcement is the act of holding your tenant accountable for what they agreed to in the lease.
How to Enforce Your Lease
When you find out that your tenant has broken your lease, the first thing to do is confront them about it in a calm manner. Inform them of what the lease states, how they broke the lease, and what they can do to rectify the situation.
For example, if your tenant brings a pet into your Houston real estate investment when the lease explicitly says no pets, you're entitled to make them get rid of the pet. Either they'll listen to you and give the pet away or continue to break the lease, which will force you to take further action.
Dealing with Poor Tenants
When you have a tenant who refuses to obey the lease agreement, you may decide to remove them from your rental. Evicting a tenant can be a long, stressful process, but as long as you follow the state's eviction laws, you should be successful.
First, make sure you're sending the right type of notice. For an overt lease violation, you give your tenant a 3-day cure or quit notice. In the scenario with the pet, this means they have 3 days to move the pet out of the unit or else you'll officially file an eviction.
When you file the eviction, you'll both be given a court date. Bring a copy of your lease and gather evidence of your tenant's infractions, such as pictures of pet damage or correspondence with the tenant. If you win the eviction, the tenant is given a final date that they must vacate the property.
How Property Management Can Help
Lease enforcement can be stressful for landlords because it involves confrontation. If you want a peaceful life as a landlord, it's best to hire a property manager to take care of lease enforcement for you.
At PMI Fine Properties, we offer a wide range of property management services for Houston landlords, including lease enforcement and eviction protection. To learn more about how we can help you protect your property, contact us today.
