Eviction is no fun for anyone. If you can avoid evicting a tenant, that’s always the best way to go. However, sometimes an eviction is the only option. Today, we’re talking about the process you need to follow in Michigan.
Demand for Possession
The first step towards eviction when a tenant stops paying rent is to send a Demand for Possession. Some people call this a 7 Day Notice. It says the tenants must pay within seven days or be evicted. You need to send this notice with a certificate of mailing to show that it got mailed. You always need to leave two days for mail, so you’ll send it out and then wait nine days to do the next step.
Filing for Eviction
If there is still no payment from the tenant, the next step is to file eviction papers. We recommend that you use a good eviction attorney at this point. Hire someone who is experienced and handles a lot of evictions. They know the process well and can do these pretty inexpensively.
Scheduling a Court Date
Once the eviction attorney files the papers, you will be given a court date. That’s usually a couple of weeks out, so at this point the tenant is already at least three weeks behind in rent. Sometimes the tenant shows up for court, but not always. If everything is in order, the judge will issue a judgment in favor of the landlord. After that judgment, there is another 10 day period to let the 
tenant catch up with the rent or move out of the property.
That’s the basic process. It usually takes four to six weeks, so that is long time not to collect rent. The best way to prevent evictions is with a really thorough screening process. Evictions can be costly, especially when you include the lost rent.
If you have any questions, we can help you handle an eviction. Please contact us at Real Property Management Southwest Michigan.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
