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Unlawful Detainer and Evictions

As a landlord, you want tenants who pay their rent on time and take care of your property. Tenants who don’t comply with the rental agreement, who are late with the rent – or stop paying altogether – may make it difficult for you to even pay the mortgage on your property.

Evicting a non-performing tenant, however, can be a difficult and time-consuming process. It can seem that California law is designed to protect the tenant, and eviction laws must be strictly followed if you are to get your property back. Many tenants know how to string along a landlord with promises of payment in order to delay eviction – and some know various legal defenses and tricks to delay an eviction (“unlawful detainer”) once it starts, prolonging their inevitable removal at your expense.

Landlords benefit from having an experienced landlord’s attorney represent them from the very beginning of the rental process. The lawyer can draft a lease protecting the landlord’s rights and giving the landlord the upper hand if and when eviction becomes necessary. And, while a boilerplate notice to pay rent or perform a rental agreement can often be found in a stationery store, knowing the appropriate language to include in the notice is key to actually terminating the tenant’s rights. This is where an attorney with eviction experience can be invaluable.

For over thirty years, we have provided prompt and aggressive representation of landlords in eviction proceedings in the Truckee and North Tahoe areas. We know the games tenants play and how they will try to put you as the landlord (and your management of the property) on trial during an eviction proceeding. We pride ourselves on acting promptly on behalf of our landlord clients to speed up the eviction process at every opportunity. And, where appropriate, we can negotiate a “cash for keys” arrangement with your tenant – with appropriate documentation enabling you to immediately have them served with an order of eviction.

If you involve us early on during your ownership of a rental property, we can make certain that your lease strengthens your position as the landlord – and does not unnecessarily confer rights upon your tenant.

Let us help you make renting your property a profitable business. And when it’s time to deal with a defaulting tenant, call us for our professional assistance.