When a commercial tenant breaches the lease agreement in any way, usually by not paying the rent, the landlord has the right to evict that tenant. In this case, state law provides the procedures for the eviction that usually requires that the landlord gives the defaulting tenant timely notice of the eviction. If the landlord does not follow the statutory requirements, the eviction may not be legal.
However, there may be valid reasons for the tenant's actions. It is always advisable for the tenant to discuss the situation with the landlord to avoid escalation of the problems. If, for example, there has been a downturn in a tenant's profits making it economically unfeasible to pay full rent, the tenant may request an abatement of rent for those affected months or even ask to "go dark" which is basically shutting the doors on operations (and thus cutting operating costs) while paying a discounted rent.
Below are some reasons why some tenants stop paying rent:
Other reasons for eviction may include:
A tenant has the opportunity to fight its eviction in court if it feels that the eviction is unlawful.Additionally, if the tenant is behind in rent, the tenant may request an opportunity to pay the arrearage amount to stop the eviction.
Since evictions are complicated situations, you should consult an attorney as soon as possible to determine your rights under commercial tenant laws.Find an attorney to discuss how to stop an eviction in a commercial business.
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