How can you evict a bad tenant in New York?
New York law allows landlords to evict tenants for several reasons.
However, you must follow procedure strictly to ensure you do not face any legal repercussions.
Causes to evict a tenant
The most common reasons landlords need to evict tenants include the following:
- The tenant did not pay rent.
- The tenant violated the rental agreement.
The reason for eviction will impact the type of notice you must provide.
Notification requirements
When a tenant does not pay rent, you must provide them with a 14-day notice. This allows them two weeks to either pay the rent or move out. If the tenant does not take action either way, you can file for eviction at the end of the 14 days.
If your tenant violates the lease, you must provide them with a notice to cure. The notice of cure allows them 10 days to correct their violation. If they do, you can take no further action. If they do not comply, you can give them a notice of termination, informing the tenant that they have 30 days to vacate the property.
Removal of a tenant
Landlords cannot force a tenant to leave, even after providing an eviction notice and allowing them 30 days to move. If the tenant remains on the property after that time, you can contact the local sheriff, who is the only person with permission to legally remove the tenant.
Under no circumstances can a landlord terminate a lease without a cause. Therefore, knowing these landlord/tenant laws is a critical part of the job.