Real estate can be a great investment if you want to generate a reliable recurring income, but it can also come with various challenges.
Your tenants will have a huge impact on your experience as a landlord, so having quality tenants is key. However, if your tenants are causing problems, you may need to evict them. Evictions are never easy, and it's important to understand how to handle things correctly.
Let's take a closer look at the eviction process in Lake Villa, IL, so you can be better prepared.
When Is an Eviction Appropriate?
You can't simply evict a tenant because you don't get along with them. There needs to be a justifiable reason.
One of the most common is nonpayment of rent. If a tenant fails to pay rent, then as a landlord you must provide them with five days' notice to pay what they owe or vacate the premises. If they refuse do this, you can begin filing an eviction lawsuit.
Lease violations are another common reason for eviction. You should always have a clear lease agreement with tenants, and if they violate this, you need to give them 10 days' notice to comply or vacate the premises. Some common lease violations include:
- Damaging the property
- Engaging in illegal activities
- Having unauthorized pets
There are some other less common issues that may lead to an eviction. Some typical examples are:
- Holdover tenancy
- Disruptive behavior
- Building code violations
- Health and safety violations
In any of these situations, you need to make sure you follow the correct legal procedures and give your tenants notice before evicting them.
The Eviction Process in Illinois
The eviction process starts with giving the tenant notice of your intent to evict them. This must be done either:
- In-person
- By leaving a copy at the residence
- Sent through registered or certified mail
After the notice period, you can file an eviction complaint with the court.
The court hearing will follow this. Tenants can appear in court and present their case/defense. They may dispute your claims here and provide evidence to support their case.
After hearing arguments from both parties, the court will come to a decision. If they rule in favor of the tenant, the eviction is denied and they may remain in the property. If the court sides with you, it will issue an order for the tenant to vacate the property.
You can request a Writ of Possession from the court if necessary. This gives the sheriff's deputy the authority to physically remove the tenant from the property.
After the eviction, the tenant will need to remove their belongings from the property. You can then proceed with the property as you see fit.
How to Handle Evictions
It's important to follow eviction laws properly when carrying out evictions. If you're in the right and approach things correctly, you shouldn't have any issues.
A skilled property management company like Grand Realty Group can be very helpful here. We have over 20 years of experience in full-service property management, so we can oversee evictions and a range of other tasks with ease.
Take a look at our property management page for more information on what we offer.
