{"id":7074,"date":"2021-07-26T10:00:39","date_gmt":"2021-07-26T17:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentecdirect.com\/blog\/?p=7074"},"modified":"2022-06-09T15:17:04","modified_gmt":"2022-06-09T22:17:04","slug":"how-long-eviction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentecdirect.com\/blog\/how-long-eviction\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Does an Eviction Take?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Evictions are one of the most expensive and stressful parts of being a landlord. Evictions can result in lost rent, require a big-time commitment, and can increase the risk for property damage. <\/span><\/p>\n

Evictions are a worst-case scenario for any landlord, property owner, or manager because of the costs associated with the process. One of the biggest costs related to eviction is the time it can take to get a renter to move out of a property- time that is usually spent with a tenant not paying rent. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the misconception that an eviction is as easy as a threat or changing the locks, there are specific steps a landlord must take in order to carry out a legal eviction<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

These steps include: identifying a cause for eviction (like non-payment of rent or a lease breach), giving the tenant notice, allowing the tenant to fix their behavior, filing eviction paperwork with the court, serving the tenant the eviction paperwork, waiting for the tenant to respond, setting a court date, and then having a sheriff deliver and execute a writ of possession if the tenant will not leave willingly. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If any of these steps are not followed according to the local and state laws regarding the eviction process, the eviction can be delayed or a landlord could end up owing his renters money!<\/span><\/p>\n

The pandemic has also played a major role in the eviction process and timeline. 2020 saw federal, state, and local moratoriums on evictions<\/a> and led to many courts refusing to process any type of eviction during the pandemic. Extensions on the eviction moratorium<\/a> have created a backlog of potential evictions that will affect how long the process will take to complete once the moratoriums end.<\/p>\n

Despite the eviction moratoriums from the pandemic, it’s important for landlords and investors to understand the steps involved in the eviction process and how each step will play into the eviction timeline. Knowing how to complete a legal eviction and familiarizing yourself with the process is a vital part of property management<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at how long an eviction takes and the different steps involved in the process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How long does an eviction take? <\/span><\/h2>\n

An official <\/span>eviction can take anywhere from a few weeks<\/span><\/a> to a few months. <\/span><\/p>\n

Why the drastic timeline?<\/strong><\/em> It has to do with the state and local laws that govern real estate and rental housing. Additionally, since an eviction is an official lawsuit filed with the court, the timeline is dependent on when a court date can be scheduled, followed by when a sheriff has availability to execute a writ of possession. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An uncontested eviction can sometimes be completed in a couple weeks but a contested eviction may last as long as a few months. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is an eviction: \u00a0<\/b>An eviction is a lawsuit that is filed against a tenant<\/span><\/a>, sometimes called an unlawful detainer or UD lawsuit. \u00a0In order for a landlord to win an eviction case that forces a tenant to be legally removed from a dwelling, the landlord must prove that a tenant did something wrong that justifies ending the tenancy. Additionally, if the pre-eviction procedures were not followed exactly, according to state requirements, the eviction could be ruled in favor of the tenant, costing the landlord extra money. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n