If you’re self-managing a rental property, you may get to a point where things are no longer going smoothly. Perhaps the tenant has stopped paying the rent. What should you do if your tenant has not paid rent on time?

What to Do if a Tenant Doesn’t Pay Rent

First, follow what your lease says. It probably says the rent is due on the first. But, there may be a grace period written into your lease, so check to see what that is. In the leases we write, there’s a five day grace period, so rent is late if it’s not received by the fifth day. So, on the next business day, we send out a Five Day Pay or Quit Notice. This is a legal notice that’s a prerequisite to the eviction. In Virginia, you cannot begin the legal eviction proceedings until you take this step. Send the appropriate notice and make sure it includes all the suitable language. Keep records and documentation that demonstrate you sent the notice. If you do go to court, you’ll need to show that you did everything in the right order.

That notice tells the tenants they have five days to pay, or they cannot stay in the property. Usually, it gets the tenant’s attention. They will contact you and work the situation out. So, don’t wait on serving this notice. It will do a lot of good.

Property Management Companies Northern Virginia: Tenant Not Paying Rent

If five days pass and they still have not paid the rent, you can begin the eviction proceedings. At this point, you should speak to an attorney. In general, you’ll start the proceedings in the county court where your property is located. You’ll get a court date, and then you’ll go with the appropriate documentation. As long as you have done everything right, the judge will award possession of the property back to you if the tenant doesn’t voluntarily vacate the property.

You’ll coordinate with the sheriff’s department so they are there if they need to physically remove the tenants from the premises. Possessions will be set out on the curb if necessary. Have a locksmith there so you can change the locks.

That’s the eviction process. You can avoid this and a lot of problems by doing careful tenant selection up front. Don’t let the wrong people into the property in the first place.

If you have any questions about Northern Virginia property management or how to evict a tenant, please contact us at Real Property Management Pros. We specialize in residential property management in the Northern Virginia market.

What to Do if Your Tenant Doesn’t Pay Rent in Northern Virginia