According to the Civil Court Data Initiative (CCDI), Rockingham County, NH, which Portsmouth belongs to, has had 1,840 eviction filings from March 16, 2020, to April 2023. During the first quarter of 2023 alone, the county had around 50 to 60 monthly filings.
As a Portsmouth, NH, landlord, you'd want to avoid becoming part of those statistics as much as possible. Evictions are, after all, time-consuming and cost lots of money.
So, to help you navigate the complex world of evictions, we here at Cardinal Point Property Management put together this guide. Read on for insights on lease termination procedures and tips for preventing and handling the tenant eviction process.
1. Mind the Grace Period
Late rent payment disputes are among the most common and valid grounds for eviction. New Hampshire landlord legal rights allow you to lawfully evict your tenants for not paying rent on time. However, late payments still depend on whether your lease agreement has a grace period.
So, review the contract. You may have specified a grace period of one to seven days. If there is one, your tenants can still pay rent during this time without penalties.
2. Send Payment Reminders
Even if your lease contract has a grace period, you should still send a rent collection reminder to tenants who have missed the due date. Something may have only caused them to forget to pay on time.
On the reminder, inform tenants about the grace period and that they can avoid late fees if they pay during this time. However, you should also remind them they must have supposedly settled on the due date.
3. Issue the Appropriate Advanced Notice
One of the first and most crucial legal tenant removal strategies in New Hampshire is giving tenants a written notice about a possible eviction. You must issue an advanced notice at least seven days before filing an official eviction case for the following reasons:
- Non-payment of rent
- Substantial damage to the rental property
- Behavior by tenants or their family members that adversely affects your or your other tenants' health and safety
A 30-day notice, on the other hand, is mandatory if the eviction is due to a tenant's failure to comply with one or more material terms of the lease. An example is if they keep more than the allowable number of pets in your rental property.
4. Partner With Cardinal Point Property Management
Cardinal Point Property Management can help minimize eviction-related losses and risks through our comprehensive tenant placement strategies and eviction protection services.
We can help you gauge potential tenants' viability and qualifications by screening them thoroughly. If we must still evict a tenant we've placed, our optional eviction protection plan will cover all your potential eviction-related expenses.
Prevent and Manage Evictions With These Tips
Giving tenants a grace period, sending reminders, and issuing the appropriate notice are crucial strategies for managing evictions. However, your best bet to minimize the risks of facing them in the first place is to partner with our property management firm.
Cardinal Point Property Management is a full-service property management company. With a collective experience spanning over thirty years, we can simplify property ownership and maximize rental income.
Call us today to learn more about our services and to request a free consultation for your Portsmouth, NH, property!
