There are a great many reasons to consider owning property in Philadelphia. The housing market is on fire right now, showing that demand to live in the area has never been greater. If you're already a landlord in the area, you know what a positive financial decision it can be.
However, there are always going to be the less pleasant sides of owning property. If you're going to own property within the city, it's important you take the time to learn how eviction in Philadelphia works.
What might you need to do if a tenant quits paying rent? Read on and we'll walk you through what you need to know.
Notice to Vacate
First and foremost, a landlord who wishes to remove their current tenant will be required to give written notice. The amount of notice will depend on the agreement between the tenant and the landlord, as this is often stipulated within their initial contract.
In general, a 10-day written notice might be anticipated, but this could be waived or even extended in a lease itself.
If a tenant is simply being evicted at the end of a lease agreement, they will be required by law to be given at least thirty day's notice.
This written notice must be delivered or posted to the resident so that they are aware they have a small window of time to take action before legal steps will be taken.
Filing an Eviction Complaint
Once the time given in the eviction notice passes by, the landlord can take the next step in the eviction process. That means they can file a complaint in court.
Once the tenant files with the courts, the courts will mail a copy of the complaint to a tenant. The complaint will lay out the reasons the landlord is asking for eviction, as well as the date and time the tenant needs to appear in court. Often, a landlord will need the help of an attorney to file and ensure the case proceeds on the proper schedule.
Nonpayment of rent, generally speaking, will be the reason that most tenants face eviction.
A landlord also has the legal responsibility of delivering the complaint to the tenant themselves as well. This could be done through first-class mail or through person-to-person contact.
Once a tenant has been served the courts will take over and the tenant will face eviction at the end of the legal process. It can be a long process and a hard lesson to learn.
Understanding Eviction in Pennsylvania
If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having a non-paying tenant, you might need to get up to date with how eviction in Pennsylvania works. The above steps will be needed to reclaim your rental property.
Looking for someone to step in and handle these less pleasant elements of running a rental property? Looking for someone experienced to screen future tenants so this doesn't happen again?
Give us a call anytime for assistance, we're happy to help.
