From March 2020 to March 2024, Utah landlords filed over 24,000 eviction cases. In March 2024 alone, the number of cases filed topped 600.
Those figures indicate how likely you are to deal with evictions as a St. George, UT landlord.
The good news is that eviction protection strategies can help lower your risks of facing this complex and costly procedure. This guide explains what they are and how they can help, so read on.
Comprehensive Tenant Screening
Failure to pay rent on time is the most common reason Utah landlords evict tenants. However, you can do the same if your tenants damage your rental property and don't want to pay for its repairs. Likewise, lease violations, criminal activity, and other bad behavior are grounds for eviction.
So, to lower your risks of dealing with evictions, always conduct comprehensive tenant screening. It lets you verify information that may affect prospective renters' viability to rent your property. These include their identity, income, credit history, rental/eviction history, and criminal background.
Clear Communication
Clear landlord-tenant communication can help prevent evictions and protect your rental income and property.
A perfect example is discussing tenant rights and responsibilities thoroughly during contract signing. By doing so, you can ensure renters understand their lease's terms and conditions.
Some of the most crucial topics to discuss include:
- Rental fee and payment schedule
- Grace period
- Late fees
- Pet policies
- Property inspection and maintenance schedules
By speaking to your tenants about what they must and mustn't do, you'll find it easier to enforce the lease agreement. If they know the consequences of breaching the lease, they'll likely be more cautious of their actions while renting your property.
Hire a Property Management Company
A property management company can protect you from evictions by thoroughly screening tenants. They then back this service up with an eviction protection plan you can subscribe to.
By subscribing to an eviction protection program, you can expect your property manager to:
- Handle the process of evicting tenants they screened on your behalf
- Follow all eviction laws, from the notice stage to the filing, hearing, and court decision stage
- Cover some of the costs associated with the eviction
- Represent you in court hearings
- Find a viable replacement for the tenant you lost
If you already have existing tenants, you can eventually get coverage for them, too. For instance, PMI St. George's eviction protection plan will cover them seven months after you sign your Management Agreement with us.
Follow These Eviction Protection Strategies
Thoroughly screening tenants, communicating with them, and hiring a property manager can all help minimize or prevent evictions.
PMI St. George can help protect you with our full-service property management solutions.
We specialize in tenant screening, eviction protection plans, lease enforcement, and residential guarantees. While we are locally owned and operated, we're also a proud member of PMI. PMI is a national company that manages real estate properties with a combined value of over $5 billion and has over 20 years of experience.
So, if you're ready to fill your rental properties in St. George with qualified tenants, contact us today! We look forward to hearing from you and discussing how we can help.
