Since March of 2020, there have been nearly 18,000 eviction filings in Puerto Rico.
If you're a San Juan property owner, the thought of evicting a tenant probably gives you a headache. No landlord wants to evict a tenant, but there comes a time when you need to protect your investment rather than take the path of least resistance.
Fortunately, there are measures you can put in place to quickly deal with and even minimize the risk of evictions. In today's post, we'll explain some of the components of a good eviction protection plan in San Juan. Keep reading and boost your rental property security with a few eviction safeguards.
Puerto Rico Eviction Laws
Before you can make the move to evict a tenant, you must understand eviction laws in Puerto Rico. These outline your rights as a landlord, as well as your tenants's rights.
One of the most important laws states that it's illegal to get rid of a tenant by force. This is known as a self-help eviction and it can result in severe penalties for the landlord.
You can evict a tenant for the following reasons:
- Nonpayment of rent
- Property damage
- Illegal activity
- Any lease violations
If your tenant does anything that's grounds for an eviction, you must first send them an eviction notice. This gives them 3-5 days to respond before you can file an official eviction with the court.
Tenant Screening
Now that you know how to evict a tenant when necessary, let's talk about how to avoid evictions. One of the most effective eviction safeguards is thorough tenant screening practices.
By looking into an applicant's criminal and financial background, you can determine whether or not they'll be a good fit. If there are any red flags about a tenant, screening will unearth them and you can eliminate them from contention before they become a problem tenant.
San Juan Leases
Getting a great tenant should prevent the need for eviction. You can continue adding rental property security by writing a thorough lease that outlines the rules of your rental, as well as the consequences of breaking the rules.
Having a clearly written lease will make things clear for your tenant. It'll also make it easier to point to infractions if they do happen. Make sure to inspect your property on a semi-regular basis to ensure your tenant isn't breaking the lease. Doing so will also help you catch any maintenance issues before they become costly problems.
Get Eviction Protection Through Property Management
These property management tips will help you take eviction protection seriously. By hiring a great property manager who offers an official eviction protection plan, however, you can remove yourself from having to deal with evictions at all.
At PMI Puerto Rico, our eviction protection plans ensure that you never have to deal with the stressful eviction process. Not only will we deal with them on your behalf, but we'll also cover the costs associated with the eviction, so you're never paying out of pocket.
Contact us today to learn more about our eviction protection services.
