Tips for Avoiding an Eviction

1) Talk to your landlord to tell them what you’re trying and doing.

2) Look at your budget to figure out what the least and most you can pay is.

3) Reach out to friends and family for support, even if it’s for babysitting or groceries so you can focus on your arrears.

4) Find alternate ways to make income to pay down your past due balance.

5) Keep trying—we know this is sometimes the hardest part. You’ve got this.

1) Can’t Pay Rent. If you can’t pay your rent, talk to your landlord and ask for help. The Jesse Tree’s Tenant Resource Center has tips to help you avoid a 3-day notice! Don’t wait—take action and keep trying. There are people and groups who can help you!

2) Landlord Gives Notice. If you don’t pay your rent on time, your landlord might give you a notice to pay or move out. Usually, you have at least 3 days to pay. If you still don’t pay after those 3 days, your landlord can go to court to have you evicted.

3) Landlord Files for Court. Three days after you get the notice to pay or leave, your landlord can start the eviction process by going to court. The court date will usually be set 5 to 12 days after that. Talk to your landlord, ask for help, or pay what you can, and they might decide not to take you to court.

4) Tenant Gets a Summons. You’ll get a letter in the mail called a “summons” that tells you when your court date is. You MUST go to your court date. If you haven’t done soy et, quickly contact Jesse Tree for help! We might talk to your landlord and work out a deal to cancel the case before court.

5) Eviction Court Happens. Make sure to go to your hearing and follow the instructions on your summons! If you don’t show up, you could get an eviction judgment on your record. In Ada county, mediation is available for eviction court hearings, and someone from Jesse Tree’s eviction court team can help you!