Can we evict tenants right now?

Question

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to get some information on evictions in the state of Virginia. Governor Ralph Northam signed a budget bill extending eviction protection until June 30, 2022. I have a tenant that pays rent late every month. The tenant doesn’t seem bothered by late fees and told me that rent due reminders aren’t appreciated. I told the tenant the rent being late each month isn’t appreciated and the tenant proceeded to defend the reasons why the rent has been late. I give the tenant a 3 day grace period and it’s now the second day after the third day the rent will be late and I will have to start charging a late fee. I’m going to see how the tenants attitude and behavior progresses for a couple of months to make my final decision but I was thinking of not renewing the lease to get around the eviction issue because I don’t have to renew a lease. Could the tenant make an issue about this ? Would I get in any trouble for doing this because they’ll have to find a new residence during this time of no evictions. Also, if I wanted to show the house to new prospective tenants could I do so even though they may have an issue? I have a video walk through so that can suffice if that’s not a good idea. Thank you for any advice.

Sara Perkinson · Answer

@Bruce Woodruff yes we will. I’m excited to see what he has for us in the near future.

Sara Perkinson · Answer

@Bill Brandt I’ve been doing that. The rent is $750 more than the mortgage. I was thinking of just raising it again for the next renters. Inflation is happening and your suppose to raise your rent every year anyway. We shall see, these tenants literally have nothing to worry about  the HOA gets paid so they don’t have to do anything except pay the rent and that’s difficult for some reason. I’ve already drafted up a late rent notice which clarifies Everything and has additional late fees listed and the eviction process. I have the spread sheet rental ledger printed to show them once again they are late. I’ll be delivering that tomorrow. Let’s see what happens with all of this.

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

As of Jan 15.2022 you will have a new Governor :-)

I suspect he will change the EO

Bill B. · Answer

Sorry, I was saying when the lease ends raise it again, raise it “a lot” to the point where the new extra rent will make it worth it to you or will pay for the PM so you don’t have to deal with it. Raise it 10-20%. We’re raising rent 10% on good tenants in vegas, that’s just the market rate goin up. If a local PM charges 8-10% raise it 15% and hand it off. You’ll make more money doing less work and have one less stress/hassle in your life. If you really don’t mind the work/stress than the extra few hundred per month will make you feel like your getting paid for the work.

They’re not going to move because you’re charging market rent, they have to pay that somewhere else too. They’ll pay over market to avoid the costs/hassle of moving and being able to pay late. Heck at least raise the rent the amount of the late fee so you’ll have that built in;Las the late fee if they are still paying late.

GL.

Sara Perkinson · Answer

@Bill Brandt I have raised the rent and I do have enough to cover 2 mortgage payments. The tenants are always late paying rent and pay the late fees. I have send late notices through text message but I guess now since the tenants are having attitudes and continuing to be late on rent I can just service them the late fee notices to the residence and and eviction notice 5 days after. I’ve found some information on being able to sue for an eviction, the would just have to provide evidence that they fit in to the CDC Eviction Moratorium. As much as I rather not go through this I guess I have no choice but to because of these tenants. I’ll just not renew the lease if this process has to happen.

Bill B. · Answer

Raise the rent enough to either 1) compensate you for the hassle of dealing with the tenant, or 2) cover the costs of having a PM deal with the tenant. Either way you get rid of a problem and avoid a vacancy and/or possible eviction ban.

Can we evict tenants right now?

Most Popular Reply