According to Self Financial, about 34% of people in the US live in rented homes. This is quite a large portion, and you may be a part of it.
From time to time, tenants and landlords are likely to have issues. These are often small, but can sometimes result in major disagreements. If you find yourself in a particularly bad situation, you may need to know a bit about eviction protection.
In this guide, we'll go over some key eviction defense tips to help ensure you can stay in your Asheville, NC, home. Keep reading for more.
1. Understand Your Rights
Having a good understanding of tenant rights is one of the best ways to protect yourself from eviction. Many landlords may try to evict tenants because of some kind of disagreement, but they can only legally do so under specific circumstances.
If your landlord is trying to evict you, they might not actually have grounds to do so. Knowing your rights will give you a better idea of whether they can evict you or not.
2. Communicate With Your Landlord
Another great way to protect yourself from eviction is to maintain an open line of communication with your landlord. If there are any issues, the best thing to do in most cases is to talk to them.
Sometimes, a simple conversation can be enough to resolve a problem. You can reduce the risk of misunderstandings and usually come to a reasonable agreement.
3. Document Everything
It can be a good idea to keep records of all interactions you have with your landlords. Keep copies of things like:
- Your lease
- Letters
- Emails
- Receipts
If any disagreements occur, having detailed documents could be very helpful.
4. Seek Legal Assistance
In some cases, you may need to seek legal eviction assistance. Legal experts can take a look at your situation and offer their guidance. They may also be able to represent you in court if it gets to that point.
Evictions can be complicated, and most people don't understand the legal aspects of them. Having an experienced lawyer on your side can greatly improve your chances of getting a favorable outcome.
5. Explore Financial Assistance Programs
You may be facing eviction due to issues with paying rent. Financial struggles can put anyone in a bad position, but you might be able to get assistance.
There are various financial assistance programs available that you may be able to get to help you out. These are offered by the government as well as some non-profit organizations. If you know you're falling behind on rent, you should look into these programs as soon as you can.
Eviction Protection in Asheville, NC
No matter how well things are going, issues can always arise with rental properties. The tips above can help, but you may also need professional assistance for eviction protection.
PMI Mountain and Main is a full-service real estate asset management company serving clients in Asheville and the surrounding communities. We offer a range of services that can help tenants and use state-of-the-art technology to always deliver the best results.
Take a look at our tenant resources page to find out more about what we do.
