The Proper Eviction Process in Ohio

Eviction is not a light topic. It’s not easy and it’s not fun. But if you own rental property, it’s an important skill to understand because doing it wrong can cost you far more than the problem you’re trying to solve.

Here are four things every landlord needs to get right when it comes to evicting a tenant in Northwest Ohio.

1. Don’t rent to bad tenants. I know things happen. Jobs change, relationships end, life gets complicated. An eviction doesn’t always mean you made a bad choice when you originally rented to someone. But if you did make a poor choice, or if you’re managing your own property and you see a pattern, you need to identify that trend and learn not to repeat it. Prevention is always easier than eviction.

2. Make absolutely certain you have legal grounds to evict. I can’t stress this enough. You can’t evict someone on a whim or because your feelings are hurt or because you’re angry. Eviction is serious business for everyone involved. It has downstream effects on the tenant that you may not fully understand, and it has legal ramifications for you as the landlord.

Here are valid reasons to evict: the contract isn’t being followed, the tenant is damaging the property, something illegal is happening on the property, or the number one cause for eviction, the rent isn’t being paid. Notice that all of these come back to one thing: the contract is being broken.

3. Follow the laws of the state of Ohio. You don’t have to follow the law, but then you will have to pay a judge or a jury to educate you, and that’s very expensive. This is a job for an eviction attorney. Hire one. We do when we evict. Then manage them and guide them as to your goals and the outcomes you’re looking for.

4. Provide written notice to the tenant. Something went wrong with a good tenant. You didn’t make a mistake. You have valid grounds to evict. Your eviction attorney agrees. Now you have to be able to prove to a court that you told the tenant in writing. It sounds easy, but it’s not. And you absolutely cannot do a self-help eviction by moving their belongings out or claiming that no one was living there. Courts do not like that. The law protects the home of the tenant. If you want them out, you have to follow the law.

Evicting a tenant is a big deal, and you need to follow the legal process. Even when eviction is necessary, be kind to the people you are evicting. If you’d like to learn more about how our property management services can make owning rentals easier, feel free to call, text, or send an email. I will walk you through your options and answer any questions you have.

Watch my video for the full walkthrough. Call me at (419) 874-1188, email jon@modene.com, or visit nworentals.com to learn more. A tradition of trust in Northwest Ohio real estate