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Owning rental property is anything but passive income. Recent research shows that eviction rates in Texas are higher now than they were during the pandemic. Further complicating matters, pandemic-era support programs for tenants are no longer in force.
If you're a rental property owner in Plano, you might be wondering how to handle evictions now that things have shifted back to business as usual. We're here to help you come up with a solid eviction plan. Read on to learn all about it!
The End of the Texas Eviction Diversion Program
The pandemic created a serious need to help people stay in their homes. As a result, the State of Texas created the Texas Eviction Diversion Program in February 2021. It utilized funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to provide Texas renters financial assistance with rent and utility payments.
The TEDP was extremely successful and helped over 323,000 Texas households in 98% of Texas counties. As the pandemic came to a close, so did this program, which was phased out in the summer of 2023. Texas renters now must find other ways to stay in their homes.
In addition, other moratoriums on evictions, like the CARES Act have expired. That said, the 30-day notice to vacate provision of the CARES Act may still be in place for certain landlords who:
- Participates in Section 8 or Housing Choice
- Utilized loans from Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac to fund the purchase of the home
Talk to a professional if any of those conditions apply to you.
Eviction Steps
If you find yourself needing to file for eviction protection, then you need to follow a detailed, step-by-step plan without exception. This includes filing specific paperwork out precisely and filing it within specific timeframes.
Start with the following steps:
- Serve the tenant a written notice to vacate (3 or 30 days for the tenant to vacate)
- File the eviction suit
- Head to court for the judgment
If you're successful in your eviction suit, you'll receive a writ of possession from the judge. Your local constable posts the writ on the tenant's door, giving them 24 hours to leave before they execute the writ. At this time, you change the locks and remove the tenant's property from the rental.
What to Avoid
There are many legitimate reasons to file for eviction. However, the Fair Housing Act prohibits all forms of discrimination in the rental and eviction process. You cannot file for eviction simply because a tenant is a member of one of the following protected classes:
- Sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation)
- Race
- Religion
- Familial status
- Color
- National origin
- Disability
Finally, you should avoid trying to evict your tenant without going through the legal process. You cannot simply change the locks when your tenant is gone or make their home uninhabitable. Landlords who attempt to circumvent legal evictions often find themselves in legal trouble and stuck with the tenant they wanted to evict.
Need Help with the Plano Eviction Process?
No landlord signs a lease with the expectation that they're going to have to evict the tenant at a later time. The fact that evictions are unexpected is the best reason to have a solid eviction process for your properties. The best way to avoid costly mistakes in the Plano eviction process is to hire an experienced professional to help you navigate all of the steps.
Are you on the hunt for a property management company with a proven record of success and top-tier customer service? PMI LegacyPro blows the competition out of the water and provides the results you're looking for. Contact us today to learn how we can help you!
