Dealing with Tenant Lease Violations: Your Guide to Taking Action

 As a landlord, you put a lot of trust in your tenants. You rely on them to follow the rules and guidelines outlined in your lease agreement and to respect your property. Unfortunately, there may be times when a tenant breaks their lease agreement, leaving you in a tough spot. 

In this blog post, we'll discuss what to do if your tenant violates their lease, and how you can take action to protect your property and your investment.



Understanding Lease Violations

Before we dive into the steps you can take to deal with a lease violation, it's important to understand what constitutes a violation. A lease agreement is a legally binding contract between you and your tenant. It outlines the rules and expectations for living on your property, including things like rent payments, property maintenance, and behavior expectations.


Common lease violations include:


  • Non-payment of rent

  • Late rent payments

  • Damage to the property

  • Unauthorized pets or guests

  • Illegal activity on the property

  • Failure to maintain the property

  • Violation of noise or other community guidelines


When a tenant violates their lease, it can put you in a difficult position. You may be losing out on rent payments, dealing with costly repairs, or facing legal consequences if the violation is serious enough. But before you take action, it's important to make sure that the violation is legitimate and that you have proof of the violation. This will protect you from any potential legal issues that may arise.


Review Your Lease Agreement

The first step in dealing with a lease violation is to review your lease agreement. Make sure that you understand the specific rules and expectations that you outlined in the contract, and determine which ones have been violated. It's important to be specific and clear about the violation when you approach your tenant.


Contact Your Tenant

Once you have identified the lease violation, it's time to contact your tenant. This can be done in person, over the phone, or in writing. Make sure to document your communication with your tenant, including the date and time of the conversation or correspondence.


Serve a Notice to Quit or Cure

If your tenant fails to correct the lease violation, you may need to serve them with a notice to quit or cure. This is a legal document that gives your tenant a certain amount of time to either fix the problem or move out of the property. The amount of time given in the notice will depend on the specific violation and the laws in your state.


Eviction Proceedings

If your tenant fails to cure the lease violation or moves out of the property, you may need to begin eviction proceedings. This is a legal process that requires you to file a lawsuit against your tenant to regain possession of the property. The specifics of the eviction process will vary depending on the laws in your state.


Preventing Lease Violations

While dealing with a lease violation can be a headache, there are steps that you can take to prevent them from happening in the first place. 


  • Tenant Screening

The most important aspect of managing and owning a rental property is screening potential tenants.


  • Lease Termination or Early Termination

A solid lease agreement will reduce property risk. You can attach an addendum permanently to your lease to state your early termination requirements if you don't have the section in your lease agreement.


  • Red Flag Leasing

You should be aware of certain red flags when showing prospective tenants your rental property. These can help you determine whether they are reliable tenants.


Let's say, for example, you show your rental property to a potential tenant and they ask what happens if they have to end their lease agreement. They will most likely break the lease during the term.


If you are looking for a Harrison Property Management solution then look no further than North Bloomfield Properties. We have always been locally owned and operated. Our experienced and knowledgeable staff can assist you in all aspects of property management in southeastern Michigan. We take care of every aspect of property management for you, including Extensive marketing and advertising, Complete tenant screening, 24-hour maintenance, Rent collection, Legal and accounting services, Real estate sales, and much more.


Name: North Bloomfield Properties

Address: 8081 Commerce Road, Commerce Township, Michigan 48382

Contact No: 248 366 8484

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