4 Steps to Take After Receiving an Eviction Notice

The possibility of being evicted doesn't have to be realty when individuals work to remedy the issue. If fact, when a landlord want to terminate a tenancy, the must take legal steps to do so. In other words, they can't simply throw people and their belongings out of the street and change the locks. However, people should act quickly to remedy the eviction process.

Step 1: Talk to the Landlord

Once the landlord wants to terminate the tenancy agreement, also called a lease or rental agreement, they give individuals a written notice. The landlord then must wait until the amount of time given on the notice passes before continuing the eviction process, according to the Oregon State Bar. During that time, individuals should discuss options to remedy rental issue. For instance, if the termination is because of nonpayment, people should negotiate to make the payments along with the current payments. Or if people are being evicted because they have violated the terms of the lease—this may include violating a no-pets clause or excessive noise—they may be able to avoid being evicted if they promise to cure the violation. In other words, individuals promise to get rid of the pet or keep the noise down.

Step 2: Seek Help Paying the Money Owed

If the eviction notice is for nonpayment of rent, people should seek out help to pay. There are local non-profit organizations that assist individuals pay rent. Some of the organizations require people make an appointment and bring needed documentation such as the written notice and proof of residence. It's important to contact organizations as soon as possible. If there are many people in the same predicament, it may not be possible to obtain help immediately, according to MSN Money.

Step 3: Always File an Answer with the Court

A landlord can continue the eviction process by filing the required paperwork in the local court. Once a court case is filed, individuals are sent a written notice and time to respond to the eviction claim. It's vital to write a response, also known as an answer, to the complaint. Without an answer, the landlord will receive a default judgment. This means that people agree that they should be evicted because they didn't dispute the claim.

Step 4: Contact a Lawyer

Anyone facing eviction should contact an attorney to obtain legal advice on what to do. The lawyer will explain all options and work on people's behalf to end the eviction process.