Ways To Avoid Eviction

If you are facing eviction and know that you will not be able to pay your rent on time if at all, here are a few ways you may be able to avoid going through an eviction:

• TALK TO YOUR LANDLORD - If you live in an apartment, see if you can transfer your lease to a smaller, less expensive unit. If you live in a private residence, explain your situation to the landlord. They may be willing to work with you. The process of eviction is expensive for the property owner as well as the tenant and you may find they are as willing to avoid a court proceeding as you are. Of course the better relationship you have with the landlord, the easier it will be for them to compromise with you.
• FIND SOMEONE TO TAKE OVER YOUR LEASE - Some property owners will allow you to break your current lease if you can find a suitable replacement. In this instance everyone wins. You get out of a lease you can no longer afford and the landlord doesn't lose any rent in the process. The downside to this option is time. You may have to incur expense to find a suitable replacement and there is no guarantee that they will be acceptable to the owner of the property.
• SUBLET THE PROPERTY - If talking to your landlord or finding someone who fits rental criteria to take over your lease are not viable options for you, consider having someone you trust such as a friend or relative sublet your apartment or home. Depending on the length of time you have remaining on your lease, you may know someone who is in need of temporary housing and doesn't want to go through the formality of signing a lease. You must be very careful with this type of situation. If the person moves in and doesn't pay the rent on time, you are in the same situation. They also have to trust that you are truly using their money to pay the rent. Set some ground rules and draw up a contract that both of you sign, outlining the details of agreement.
• GET A ROOMMATE - If you have the space, find a roommate. If you are residing in a 2 bedroom apartment or are renting a home and have extra rooms, rent them out to someone you trust. That's a good way to alleviate some of the monthly costs and prevent you from going through a long and costly eviction, as well as keep it off your record. Depending on what your needs are, the slight inconvenience could be well worth it compared to the alternative.

Though you may not have the money, what you do have is time. Visit the website of your local Real Estate Commission and research landlord/tenant laws for your state. Even if the eviction process has started, if you can get the money together by your court date many landlords will accept it at that time. If not, you can appeal the decision of the court and buy yourself more time. The bottom line is DON'T GIVE UP!