Need legal advice: I bought a bank owned duplex with squatter

[Account Closed]

Hello,

I recently started to invest in real estate in Cleveland and would like to discuss the situation that I am in. I bought a duplex from a bank 2 months ago, the upstairs unit is occupied by someone who has been here for 10 years. This person stayed when the previous owner abandoned the property 3 years ago. Now I own the property and would like to evict this person who is not able to pay rent.

Do I need to hire an attorney in order to go through a formal eviction process or can I just ask this person to leave since she told me that she would not be able to pay?

Thank you in advance for your help,

Gautier

[James Bynum]

There is also the option of offering cash for keys, would definitely be cheaper than an attorney and gives her a couple hundred bucks to help her move her and her things out. Just make sure you get it in writing so she doesn't just take the money and stay.