Before sending an official notice, the landlord should communicate with the tenant via e-mail or text message. Since eviction notices can scare good-paying tenants, it’s best to have a calm approach that doesn’t make the tenant defensive.

Most lease violations are resolved without going past this step.

In order to officially start the eviction process, a landlord will need to deliver an eviction notice (notice to quit) to the tenant. Deliver the notice by posting it to the tenant’s door while also sending it by Certified Mail with a Return Receipt by the USPS.

Once the tenant receives the eviction notice, they will have the opportunity to cure the violation within the allotted time frame.

It is required to send an eviction notice by any of the following methods:

• Certified mail (with return receipt)
• Hand-delivery
• Posting in a conspicuous place (e.g. on or underneath the tenant’s door)
• Standard mail (not recommended)

If the tenant has not cured the violation within the timeframe outlined in the notice to quit, you can now go to your local county courthouse by bringing a copy of the return receipt and filing for the eviction. Here is a list of information that you will need to bring with you to the courthouse in order to file for your eviction against the tenant successfully:

• The address and a description, if any, of the property you are seeking to possess;
• A description of the reason for the eviction;
• A detailed account as to how and when the notice to vacate was delivered;
• An accounting of all unpaid rent and dues at the time of filing; and
• If attorney fees are being sought, include a statement with the filing.

Once filed, the court will serve a summons that orders the tenant to show up to court on a specified date.

If the tenant doesn’t have enough money to pay rent, they most likely won’t be able to afford an attorney. In most cases, a tenant will be defending themselves.

The landlord should come to court prepared with the following:

• Original lease
• Payment records
• Notice to quit

If you win the case, the court will allow the tenant a small amount of time in order to pack up and leave — typically around one week. In the event that the tenant does not move out at the end of their allotted timeframe, you may contact your local sheriff’s department, who will escort the tenant out of your property along with their possessions.

The prevailing party is typically entitled to recover all court costs. Most of the time, the security deposit can cover most of the losses incurred by the landlord. If the security deposit isn’t enough, collecting is handled by going through a small claims court.

However, it might take a while for you to collect your money. Depending on how much you owe, you may want to consider whether collecting is worth your time.