Most states place a priority on protecting the rights of tenants, so it's important to know the laws before you decide to evict bad tenants.
Georgia landlords who want to evict their tenants cannot do so without following the prescribed legal process. In some cases, such as foreclosure, the tenant may even have the right to remain on the property for some time afterward, too.
Read on to learn how you can navigate evictions in Georgia without ending up in trouble.
Valid Reasons for Evictions in Sugar Hill, GA
According to Georgia eviction laws, there are only three legal grounds for pursuing a tenant eviction. These are:
Failure to Pay Rent
Under Georgia law, rent becomes past due if it remains unpaid for one day after the due date, unless the lease provides a grace period. If your tenant does not pay their rent by the specified date, you must issue them a pay or quit notice.
This demand means they must pay as soon as possible, or you will begin eviction proceedings.
Violation of the Rental Agreement
Lease violations include everything that the lease agreement expressly forbids, e.g., smoking indoors or keeping pets. It also refers to illegal activity taking place on your property.
You can provide the tenant with written notice to correct their lease infringement before evicting them, but this is not mandated by law. In cases of illegal activity, you can begin eviction proceedings immediately.
An Expired Lease
If your tenant remains on the property after their lease ends, you may provide them with notice to leave the property within 60 days. You should issue this notice 60 days before the lease ends if you don't intend to renew the lease.
If they don't vacate your rental property in time, you may start the legal eviction process.
Georgia Tenant Eviction Process
In Georgia, you must file an eviction notice with your local court. The tenant has seven days to pay their rent or vacate the property once they receive this notice.
If they challenge the eviction or ignore the warrant, the judge will set a date for the hearing. At this hearing, the judge decides on a course of action, and both parties must comply.
If the tenant doesn't arrive, the judge will rule against them and issue a writ of possession for officials to evict the tenant. In all cases, both the tenant and landlord have seven days to appeal the judge's decision.
Eviction Protection for Georgia Landlords
Hiring a property management firm is one way to protect yourself from having to carry out unpleasant and costly evictions in Sugar Hill, Georgia.
These professionals help ensure you place good tenants in your property thanks to stringent background checks. They carry out regular property inspections to ensure lease compliance and prompt rent collections.
PMI Northeast Atlanta offers all these services and more. Get in touch to find out about our extensive lease protection program and sign up with us to enjoy the benefits of the best landlord advice based on decades of experience with Georgia real estate.
