Rental properties are a booming business. More than 40 percent of the population of Grand Rapids rents a home or apartment. This puts the area on par with the rest of the country.
All renters in the United States have rights, and landlords need to be aware of these. Property owners have rights as well, including the ability to make a living off real estate investments.
Sometimes this means landlords must evict tenants. While this is not a pleasant undertaking, it can be an important step in getting your unit back onto the market. For this, you need an eviction protection plan.
This article explains the ins and outs of evictions in Michigan. Keep reading to find out how to proceed, when necessary, to protect your Grand Rapids real estate investment.
Eviction Moratorium
In the middle of the COVID pandemic, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued two different national moratoriums on evictions. These prohibited evictions based on the inability to pay rent.
The most recent ban was in the summer of 2021, although it was eventually struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. However, the ruling did allow individual states to decide whether they wanted to implement their own moratoriums.
Michigan was one of these. However, that moratorium ended in 2023. In short, you can now evict someone in the state for failure to pay rent.
Grounds for Eviction in Michigan
The most important thing to remember is that you must have a good reason to evict someone. As stated, this can include failure to pay rent, but other scenarios can be a basis as well.
One of the most common reasons is for a violation of lease terms. Another is illegal drug activity (which does not have to be stipulated in the lease). Also, tenants who cause extensive physical damage to the property or create a health hazard for themselves or other tenants can be evicted.
Eviction Protection Plan
An eviction protection plan lays out the actions to take for carrying out an eviction. The first step is to issue an eviction notice, sometimes called a "demand for possession." This must be in writing and include several pieces of information, such as the tenant's name and address, as well as the reason for eviction.
If the tenant does not abide by the notice to vacate, then the property owner should file a civil lawsuit. The court will issue a summons and send a copy of the complaint to the tenant. If no resolution is reached, then the judge will make a decision.
If the judge sides with the landlord, the final step is to apply for an eviction order. This will let the tenant know that they must leave by a certain date and time, or they will be forced out. The actual eviction is carried out by a court officer.
Learn More About Eviction Protections
Now that you are familiar with eviction laws and processes for Grand Rapids, you can begin putting together steps to take when confronted with this scenario. Having an eviction protection plan can help safeguard your investment property.
PMI West Michigan is a full-service rental property management company. We offer a variety of services, including property maintenance, tenant screening, and carrying out evictions when necessary. Reach out to us today to learn more.
