The ugly side of investing in residential real estate is evictions, but an eviction isn’t as commonplace or daunting as it might seem. This is particularly true if you’re placing the right tenants (significantly reduces chance of eviction) and if you follow the well established laws and regulations put in place. The below is general information with respect to evictions in counties in Texas – always check local laws and regulations before attempting an eviction.

Timeline

The timeline from filing an eviction petition to the actual eviction can fluctuate depending on court workload, but they typically range from 3 to 6 weeks. Following a successful hearing with the court resulting in a favorable eviction ruling, the process remains subject to the schedule of the constable or sheriff’s office. They’ll post a notice on the property’s front door upon issuance of the “writ of possession” and subsequently physically oversee the eviction to maintain peace.

Cost

Costs vary, usually calculated per adult tenant being evicted. Filing costs against one adult person generally costs $125, with an additional $150 for the writ of possession post-hearing victory. Additional expenses include changing all locks, hiring a team to remove personal belongings from the premises post eviction as well as potential cost incurred by the sheriff’s office for an officer to be present (typically a short period is free with an additional $50 per hour after that time period).

In Summary

With a documented lease and a solid record of lease payments or defaults, evictions for non-payment of rent typically proceed relatively smoothly.