When you need to remove a problem renter from your property, a Minnesota eviction lawyer for landlords can ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible. Contact Toepfer at Law to schedule your confidential consultation today.
If you’re a long-time landlord, it shouldn’t be too hard to imagine this scenario:
About six months ago, your tenant signed a one-year lease. Although their first couple rent payments were on time, it wasn’t long before they got behind. At only six months into their lease, they now owe you three months of back rent.
At first you were understanding. You knew they were in a tough financial situation, so you met with them in hopes of finding a solution. You adjusted their rent’s due date to better align with their pay schedule, but that didn’t help. You suggested they sublease the unit and stay with family until they got back on their feet, but they refused.
Now they’re living rent-free on your property, seemingly unbothered by their delinquency.
Here’s the hard truth: Eviction isn’t pleasant for anyone, but sometimes it’s the only option landlords have left. However, it’s not always an easy process, and depending on your specific circumstances, it could even be extremely difficult to achieve.
If you need to remove a renter from your property, you may want to consider hiring one of our experienced eviction lawyers. Although you can pursue eviction without legal representation, partnering with an expert can improve your chances of removing a problem tenant quickly.
Keep reading to learn if you can legally evict your renter, and if so, the specific steps you’ll need to take to complete the Minnesota eviction process.
Only specific situations warrant eviction, which means you can’t just remove a tenant from your property because you don’t like them or you regret renting it. According to Minnesota law, landlords must have a legitimate reason to pursue eviction, such as one of the following:
If your circumstance doesn’t involve any of these scenarios, you may not be able to legally pursue a conviction. However, it’s always smart to consult with a lawyer for their opinion.
Even when you have grounds for eviction, you cannot attempt to forcibly remove a tenant. You will need to follow these four steps to complete your Eviction Action:
If the judge decides the tenant has no legal reason to refuse to pay rent or leave, they will order the renter to vacate the property and may send law enforcement to help. In situations where immediate eviction could lead to substantial hardship, the judge may delay it for a short period, generally a week.
When a landlord brings an Eviction Action strictly on the basis of nonpayment and wins the case, the tenant can still pay and stay. In addition to paying past due rent, they may also need to pay interest, an attorney fee and costs of the action (such as a filing fee).
You don’t technically need a lawyer to bring an Eviction Action against a tenant, but having one certainly makes the process easier. If you’re in a complex situation and need a renter removed quickly, it never hurts to reach out to an expert. Luckily, the experienced eviction attorneys at Toepfer at Law are ready to help.
Contact our firm online to schedule your confidential consultation or give us a call at (320) 497-4416 today.