Utah is projected to end up with around 8,000 evictions this year.
This is a small fraction of the tens of thousands that happen each month across the US, but it's significant nonetheless. No landlord sets out to evict someone at the beginning of a tenancy, but sometimes tenants leave you with no other options.
As a Salt Lake City landlord, it's important to go about evictions professionally. Here, we'll tell you how you should handle Utah evictions and give you a quick guide for navigating the process. We understand how important it is to protect your rental investment, so keep reading and get a handle on evictions in Utah.
Read Up on Eviction Laws
The first thing you should do when you're thinking about evicting a poor tenant is to read up on Utah's eviction laws. If you go through an illegal eviction or try to navigate the process without an understanding of what you can and can't do, the whole thing could backfire.
Most states have similar eviction laws with minor but important differences. In Utah, you first need to have good reasons for eviction, such as failure to pay rent or breaking the rental agreement. If the situation satisfies the law, the next thing you need to do is give your tenant an official notice.
These notices differ based on the infraction. If it's late rent, you can send them a 3-day notice to pay or quit, while a lease infringement requires a 3-day notice to comply. In more serious situations when illegal activity has been conducted, you can issue a 3-day notice to quit, which means they must evacuate in 3 days.
Communication First
Before issuing a notice, it's good practice to try and communicate with your tenant. Give them a chance to rectify the situation, whatever it may be. Doing so shows both the tenant and the eviction court that you're a lenient landlord.
Make sure to keep all of your correspondence with the tenant. You may need to use it as evidence later on when the eviction goes to court.
Issuing the Eviction Notice
If you've given the tenant a chance to pay rent or comply with your lease agreement and they refuse to do so, that's when you can issue one of the above-mentioned notices. This isn't an official eviction notice, but more of a declaration of intent and a last chance for the tenant to change their ways.
After the notice is up, with no change on the part of the tenant, you can go pay the court and file an eviction. In court, you'll provide any evidence you have and the tenant will be given the chance to state their case. When you win, the tenant will be given a date that they must vacate the property.
Get Help with Utah Evictions
There's no denying that evictions can be trying for everyone involved. If you're dealing with a poor tenant, hiring a property manager can help.
At Wolfnest, we're one of Salt Lake City's top property management companies. Not only can we help with your eviction, but we can help you with tenant screening to ensure it never happens again. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help maximize your investment.
