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Schertz Property Management Tips: Managing Evictions in a Crisis

Even in crisis times, many property owners find ways to work with their renters to avoid eviction. Evicting tenants during a crisis is not something any landlord wants to do—but they may feel like they’ve been forced to do so due to actions on the part of their renter.

However, as the experts in Schertz property management, we want to pose a question: What happens when you can’t evict your tenant due to a crisis?

Putting a tenant out during such hard times may seem inhumane when so many of us are being asked to remain in our homes to limit the spread of the virus, but there are many factors at play. When your livelihood is in danger, you know you want to take swift and decisive action. However, attempting to manage eviction during a crisis often calls for a delicate approach—especially if the courts are operating at limited capacity, have instituted a moratorium on evictions, or are otherwise closed.

With these changes in mind, consider the following tips on addressing the need for eviction during a crisis from your allies at Real Property Management Campanas!

A quick foreword: This article is not intended as a substitute for medical or legal advice. If you’re facing a challenge that requires the skills of a competent attorney or expert property management, Schertz landlords, reach out to us for hands-on guidance!

 

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Follow Procedure Carefully

You can’t always evict when you want—especially during a crisis. Plus, even outside of a disaster scenario, you need to have legitimate reasons for pursuing an eviction—unless you want to leave the courtroom with lighter pockets and no resolution! Regardless of the current situation surrounding you as a property owner, you need to be aware of changes and fluctuations in the law that may affect your ability to successfully run your rental properties.

Even though it may not yield the kind of outcome you’re hoping for in the short term, you should follow the available procedures as much as possible. Knowing the current standards expected of property owners during an emergency moratorium on evictions is also crucial for your safety as well: If you’re delivering notices to the front door of your renter when such a practice is forbidden, you can bet someone like a Professional Tenant will take advantage of that down the line to hurt you.

This is an arena where working with professional Schertz property management can bring you considerable peace of mind as a property owner. Leaving the understanding of relevant law in the hands of your property manager provides you with a third-party buffer that makes it their mission to stay current in the face of changing legislation. Essentially, navigating the law is no longer your problem!

Property managers also have the advantage of having “been around the block,” in most cases, they’ve seen your exact situation play out before (or something like it). This means that your property management partner has developed tools for how to avoid eviction from the start with other techniques designed to deescalate tense situations.

One of the reasons such techniques work is because property managers are experts at documenting every interaction they have with your renters on your behalf. In a crisis scenario where you may not currently be able to pursue an eviction, documenting every detail is your next best move to having workable evidence when the courts reopen.

Document Everything

Even though it may be difficult to obtain official papers to evict a tenant during a crisis, you will likely still be dealing with some paperwork if you want to prepare yourself for a future eviction. If you want to increase your chances of success down the road, you should be carefully documenting every detail of the trouble at hand.

The key to documentation is to capture important information in some kind of tangible record. Anything in your experience as a landlord that you think will be helpful should be recorded. All your transactions, repairs, and receipts with the tenant should be stored. It’s tough to record the details of a phone call, so communicating with your renters by traceable means such as email or text is a safe option for you as the property owner.

All the documentation in the world will not matter if you don’t store those documents appropriately! Store every file, folder, and paper copy safely and securely. It should be easy to retrieve them as well if you find yourself needing to move fast.

Evict After Everything Is Over

You should only evict a tenant after the entire eviction process has been settled legally by the courts. Failure to do so may have grave legal consequences. This means when you find yourself unable to evict, you can’t just jump the gun and show up in person to remove your tenant. Not only is this irrational, but it plays right into the hands of a Professional Tenant looking to extend their stay.

Wait for cooler heads to prevail and for restrictions to lift; then, evict when you are able to do so with the guidance of a skilled attorney or the skills of an expert Schertz property management partner.

 

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You Need Peace of Mind: You Need Property Management!

When it comes to evictions, there are few more experienced than a professional property manager. Having conducted evictions over the years for property owners who have placed their own renters without thorough screening, they are one of your best resources when managing an eviction during tough times.

However, as we mentioned previously, one of the many skills that property managers are known for is finding alternatives to eviction before a crisis ever reaches a boiling point. If you are interested in having your property managed by Real Property Management Campanas, have more questions, or just want to speak to one of our team members, then contact us online or call us directly at (210) 314-1039 today!

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