Eviction Law in Gainesville, FL

What Is an Eviction?

An eviction is the forceful exiting of tenants following an issued notice by the property owner or landlord. Evictions usually come as a result of failure to pay rent, or from violations of the lease agreement. However, evicting a problem tenant can be a long and costly experience as landlord-tenant laws favor tenants. Getting a better understanding of how Gainesville, Florida eviction law can help.

Even though eviction notices happen as a result of serious problems with the tenant, not all eviction notices lead to an actual eviction. Oftentimes, eviction notices serve as a final warning for the tenant. If the tenant can then pay rent, or begin to follow the lease agreement, they may avoid eviction.

When Can Landlords Send a Termination Notice?

The Tenant Doesn’t Pay Rent

If a delinquent Gainesville, FL tenant frequently pays rent late, or has not paid rent at all, there is a good reason for eviction. Some states do have a grace period for an occasional late payment. However, if a tenant makes a habit of always paying late, that grace period does not apply and the property owner can provide an eviction notice.

Florida law does not require that a landlord in Gainesville offer a grace period to catch up on overdue rent. However, many building owners will include a short time to pay before eviction in their rental agreement.

You should always provide your tenant with “late rent” notices and keep a copy for yourself in your files. That way, if the eviction case goes to court, you have paper evidence of their failure to pay rent on time.

The Tenant Violates the Terms or Conditions of the Lease Agreement

Lease agreements are legal contracts. This means if your tenant violates the contract in any way, it can be grounds for eviction. For example, if your lease agreement says that your tenant cannot have an additional person living in the unit, and they violate that rule, you can begin the eviction notice process.

The lease agreement is also legally binding for the landlord. This means that any Gainesville landlord must also follow the rules laid out in the agreement, such as making repairs, and performing maintenance written into the lease.

The Tenant Damages the Property

Tenants are going to cause damage to the property; it’s unavoidable. Wear and tear when living in a home is normal. Still, there’s a difference between scratches on the wall or broken blinds, and intentional destruction of property.

If it’s clear that your tenant is causing severe damage to your property, such as breaking through walls or smashing windows, this may be cause for eviction. However, if your tenant makes repairs themselves, and doesn’t make any major changes to the property, this might not be grounds for eviction.

The Tenant Uses the Property for Illegal Purposes

If your tenant is using your Gainesville property for illegal purposes, such as selling drugs or weapons, this can be clear grounds for eviction. Reporting the issue might also bring criminal charges against the tenant.

However, you should prepare to provide evidence that the tenant is using the property for illegal purposes. If law enforcement came to the property to address these issues at any time, these reports can prove helpful.

How to Evict a Tenant in Gainesville, Florida

If you want to evict a tenant for any reason, then you need to understand the eviction process. Here’s how it works.

Step 1. Check Your Local Laws

Eviction laws are different in each state and can also vary at the city level. Therefore, it’s important to familiarize yourself with local laws before taking any action. Always ensure you have a legally valid reason for eviction before giving notice. A qualified Gainesville, FL attorney can help review your case to determine if you do.

The Florida Bar publishes information for tenants and landlords in Gainesville to consider. If a renter fails to meet expectations, they risk getting kicked out of the rental unit. A few examples included in current statutes are:

Paying the complete amount of the rent promptly

Complying with health or safety codes

Refraining from disturbing the peace or breaking laws

Maintaining the property other than the usual wear and tear

Step 2. Give a Formal Notice of Eviction

If you have tried to reason with your tenants and they continue to violate the terms of your lease, you should then provide them with a formal notice of eviction. Your eviction notice will serve as an ultimatum or final warning. It should explain how your tenant is in violation, as well as what they can do to stop the eviction process.

The eviction notice should also include a deadline for the tenant to either pay rent or move out, and the amount that the tenant owes. If you’re unsure of how to create an eviction notice, you can use online templates or seek legal advice.

Alachua County provides forms for landlords in Gainesville looking for help with serving notices. This collection of documents includes complaints to submit to the courts. You can use these papers to document critical information like:

Amount of damages or overdue rent

Location of the rental unit

Name of the tenant

Contact information for the owner

Step 3. File the Eviction with the Court

You must file the eviction notice with the court within a few days. The court will then set a hearing date and will notify the tenant of the hearing by a summons. Approving these documents and other steps to evict in Gainesville may fall to the Eighth Judicial District of Florida.

Step 4. Contact an Experienced Gainesville, Florida Eviction Attorney and Prepare for the Hearing

You should find an attorney as soon as possible to help you prepare for the hearing. Then, when you go to the hearing, you should bring the following documents:

Lease agreements
Records of payments
Bounced checks
Record of communication between you and the tenant
Record of the eviction notice
Proof that the tenant received the notice

Step 5. Evict the Tenant

If you win the hearing, your tenant will be given a specific timeframe to vacate the property, which varies by state but usually ranges from 48 hours to a week. Should the tenant refuse to leave within that time, you can contact , law enforcement to enforce their removal from the property.

Step 6. Collect Past-Due Rent Payments

If your tenant owes you rent money, you may still have a long fight ahead to collect past-due payments. You can try to collect these payments through a number of methods:

Hiring a private debt collector
Garnishing their tax refunds
Garnishing their wages
Taking the case to small claims court

Work with an Experienced Eviction Attorney in Gainesville, Florida

The tenant will likely try to argue that you did not follow proper procedures for providing an eviction notice. Having a qualified Gainesville attorney on your side can take the pressure off your back, and help ensure a victory in court. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Florida state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!

About the Author

Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.

With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.

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