According to the Florida Housing Data Clearinghouse, Boca Raton's Palm Beach County had 5,682 eviction filings in 2020 and 5,978 in 2021. Then, as COVID moratoriums and tenant eviction support programs ended, they jumped to 8,747 in 2022 and 9,411 in 2023. The figures for 2024 closely resemble those for the previous year, so the number of evictions for this year may be similar to, if not higher than, 2023.
Such sobering statistics should prompt you, a Boca Raton landlord, to review your eviction and protection strategies. Minimizing your eviction risks should be a top priority, as they are costly, complex, and time-consuming.
PMI Beach Properties has shared insights into navigating and minimizing your risk of facing post-COVID evictions, so read on.
Boca Raton Rental Laws for Evicting Tenants
State laws and landlord-tenant guidelines apply to evictions in Boca Raton, FL. Under Florida Statute 83.56, landlords must serve tenants with an advanced notice regarding a pending eviction:
- 3-day conditional notice for non-payment of rent
- 7-day conditional notice for non-compliance with the lease
- 7-day unconditional notice for criminal activities
Conditional means your tenant can correct the issue before you file an eviction.
Suppose you must evict a tenant because they didn't pay rent on time. In this case, the 3-day notice you'll serve them will give them three days to pay the rent or move out. If they don't, you can file an eviction case against them via the Palm Beach County Clerk.
Minimizing Evictions With Tenant Payment Plans
One of the most effective property management strategies for reducing the risk of eviction is to consider offering a tenant payment plan to "qualified" renters.
For example, suppose you have a renter who has been with you for several years. They've always paid rent on time, their neighbors like them, and they've never given you landlord stress and headaches. Unfortunately, they haven't paid rent this month.
In that case, consider contacting your tenant and asking about their situation. They may have only encountered a short-term financial pinch that they can resolve soon and pay their rent in full within a few weeks. In this scenario, you should qualify your tenant for a payment plan rather than evict them immediately.
Reducing Losses With Eviction Protection Plans
One of the most straightforward ways to minimize eviction risk is to work with a property management firm offering eviction protection plans. A perfect example is our company, PMI Beach Properties.
When you hire us as your full-service property manager, we'll screen your tenants thoroughly. We'll select renters who are least likely to do something that could be grounds for eviction. And if we must ever evict a tenant we've placed, we'll handle the legal proceedings on your behalf and cover up to $2,000 of your eviction costs.
Protect Yourself From Evictions
With rental assistance programs ending, Boca Raton evictions have returned to pre-COVID levels. For this reason, you should do everything possible to lower your eviction risks.
PMI Beach Properties can help. Our full-service property management solutions, including tenant screening, lease enforcement, and eviction protection, will help you navigate and prevent costly evictions. We'll use our local expertise, innovative technology, and support from PMI, our parent company managing over $5 billion of real estate assets, to keep your rental filled with quality tenants.
Connect with us today for your free rental analysis!
