In a perfect world, Jacksonville, FL landlords wouldn't ever have to worry about evicting any of their tenants. These tenants would pay their rent on time every month and adhere to their rental agreements at all times.
But this is, of course, not always how it works. It's why you might need to evict a tenant every so often when you're a landlord in the Jacksonville, FL area. There are about 1,000 evictions that take place in Jacksonville each month.
You won't just be able to evict a tenant without warning, though. Eviction protection in Florida will prevent you from doing this. Here are three things you need to know about the eviction protection programs that have been set up in the state.
1. Issuing a Pay or Quit Notice Comes First
Eviction protection is designed to try to help landlords and tenants work out the issues they're having before the eviction process actually begins. It's why things must start with a landlord issuing a pay or quit notice to a tenant.
This particular type of notice will let a tenant know they have three days to either pay a landlord or move out of a property. But it's worth noting that, after the three days are up, a landlord cannot forcibly remove a tenant from their property even if they haven't made rent payment arrangements or chosen to move out.
2. Filing an Eviction Notice Comes Next
If a tenant essentially chooses to ignore a pay or quit notice, that's when a landlord will be able to begin the eviction process. They'll need to do it by filing an eviction notice with the local Clerk of Courts.
From there, a sheriff will deliver an eviction notice to a landlord's tenant. The tenant will then have five days to respond to this notice.
3. Attending a Court Hearing Closes Things Out
Once a landlord sends an eviction notice to a tenant, a court hearing will be scheduled. At this court hearing, a judge will listen to what both a landlord and a tenant have to say.
If the tenant can make a case for why they haven't paid rent, they might be able to secure a victory in court. But more often than not, landlords will win these kinds of court cases. A judge will then order a tenant to move out of a rental property by a certain date and pay any money owed to a landlord.
It can take weeks and even months for the eviction process to play out from start to finish. This is largely because of the eviction protection that landlords and tenants receive in Jacksonville, FL.
Eviction Protection Helps Landlords and Tenants
If you're a landlord in Jacksonville, FL, you should know eviction protection was put into place to protect both you and your tenants. But it can make the eviction process drag out in many cases.
If you'd rather not deal with evicting your tenants, you can bring a Jacksonville property management company on board to help you do it. This company can also help you screen potential tenants in an effort to avoid having to evict too many people in the first place.
Contact us at Roundtable Property Management to work with a company that knows the ins and outs of property management in Jacksonville.
