The first half of 2023 saw over 70,000 eviction filings in Atlanta.
Being a landlord in greater Atlanta comes with a unique set of challenges. That said, you never go into being a landlord hoping to evict any of your tenants. When it comes to protecting your investment, however, you're sometimes forced to do things you don't want to do.
Fortunately, there are tactics you can use to mitigate the risk of eviction. In today's post, we'll walk you through creating an eviction protection and prevention plan that works. Keep reading and learn how to keep your property safe from poor behavior.
Understanding Eviction Law in Georgia
Before you create your eviction protection plan, you must prepare yourself for all eventualities. Learn more about Georgia eviction law if you do need to evict one of your tenants.
The two main reasons for a legal eviction are nonpayment of rent and lease violations. Both violations are served with a 3-day notice to cure or quit. This means that the tenant has 3 days to rectify the situation or leave the premises.
Failing to follow the proper eviction process will result in penalties and, even worse, a failed eviction.
The Role of Tenant Screening
The best method for avoiding evictions is to prevent the need for them in the first place. Easily the best way to do that is with an extensive tenant screening process.
Proper tenant screening will look into an applicant's financial and criminal background. A credit check will indicate their financial situation to tell you if they can afford monthly rent payments. Criminal background checks tell you if they have any concerning criminal behavior in the past.
You can also contact character references. People like former landlords and employers can tell you a great deal about the person that you're letting into your rental property.
Other Methods of Deterrence
Another important eviction protection tactic is deterrence. By requesting a security deposit at the start of the tenancy and popping in for regular inspections, you can deter your tenant from poor behavior.
Security deposits are a form of insurance against things like failed rent payments and property damage. You collect it at the start of the tenancy and if the tenant costs you money in any way, you can reimburse yourself from the deposit.
Inspections, on the other hand, involve regularly dropping in to keep an eye on your property. If you see any signs of lease violation during an inspection, you can deal with the tenant accordingly. When tenants know you may pop by for an inspection, they're far less likely to break the lease.
Property Management and Your Eviction Protection Plan
These are a couple of surefire tactics to protect your property against poor tenants. If you want to guarantee eviction protection, however, hiring a property manager is the way to go.
A property management service, like PMI Cobb, offers eviction protection services. In addition to tenant screening and maintenance, eviction protection promises that you won't have to pay out of pocket for the costs associated with evictions.
Contact us today to learn more about eviction protection and how it can help you.
