STR Evictions...A Waste of Time?

[Quynn Costello]

We have a short term rental property in Columbia, SC where we host traveling professionals for 3 months-1 year on a short term, furnished basis. We currently have a tenant who is in breach of their lease agreement by subletting the apartment without our prior written approval. We have already let him know that this would not be permitted (he did not ask, he just gave us an "FYI" that someone would be staying there in his absence), and today we were made aware that his "friend" has already brought all their stuff and is staying in the apartment while he is away for an extended period. We have cameras on the exterior of the property which is how we know this is happening. Our lease agreement states clear as day that this action is a breach of contract, and it also states that should there be a breach we reserve the right as the landlord to terminate the lease agreement immediately. For safety reasons and insurance purposes, we feel we must act on this and follow through on the termination of the lease as stated, however we are not aware of the eviction process (as we have never gone through it before) and don't know if we would even make any headway on that process before his lease is over. He has approximately 2 months left on his lease with us. 

If any STR landlords out there have experience with this, especially as it pertains to tenant laws in SC, we would greatly appreciate your insight and advice on how you executed this or if we are wasting our time given the short time remaining on lease.

Thank you in advance!

[Theresa Harris]

Why not talk to the 'new' tenant and add them to the current agreement?  I'd also find out how long they are staying there for (1 week? 1 month? the rest of the lease?).  Explain that only people on the lease are allowed to live there for insurance purposes.