Month to Month Lease or Yearly Lease?

[Caitlyn Ulinski]

We have been using yearly leases for our properties (we mostly have single family and a couple duplexes). These are in low income areas. We have had good tenants so far, but I like to prepare as best as I can for the bad ones that are bound to rent from us at some point. I have been intrigued by doing month to month leases instead of yearly so that we can get rid of a tenant if they are not paying, not taking care of the house, etc. But is it actually any easier to evict a tenant after a month to month lease?

The scenario I'm thinking of is that we get a tenant that doesn't pay. On a year lease, we end up having to serve them an eviction notice and the process may take a few months to get them out. On a month to month lease, we end the agreement after the month is up, and then if they don't leave, we still have to go through the eviction process. So how is a month to month lease any better? If the tenant isn't going to leave from the eviction with the yearly lease, there's probably a good chance they won't leave after their month to month lease is terminated, right? Or do you find that they generally do leave peacefully after ending a month to month lease? Also, is the eviction process faster for holdover tenants than it is for tenants under a lease agreement?