The critical part is to prevent them from getting into your hous

The critical part is to prevent them from getting into your house:

Check their credit- Do NOT rent to the ones with bad credit. I know, there are good people with bad credit, but you have to protect yourself.

Ask Bank statement- see if there are bad checks
Ask Paycheck stub- verify job and salary
Talk with the current landlord- be carefull if it is the true landlord or the friend of the applicant.

If, unfortunately the bad renter is already there, then do the following:

If by the 5th of the month and you still haven't received the check, then serve the five day pay or quit notice letter. Be very careful of the text which should follow the standard of your state. Mail one using certified mail, and also hand deliver one with an unrelated witness.

If not payment, go to the court and sue for illegal retainer. During this time, you can still accept payment, but you MUST write a conditional receipt. " I conditionlly received ..."

Then go to the court by the court day. Bring a copy of the lease, a copy of the 5 day letter, and a check list of the amount the renter owns you, such as the rent, late payment fee, court fee, ect.

Try your best to avoid face to face dispute. Be friendly even at the time serving the notice letter.

After you win the case, make an appointment with the police or sherrif. Then go with them, bring your moving company, and move his stuff to the curb (in VA). In some states, you have to put their stuff in a storage for a certain amount of time.

Before you move their stuff, take many pictures.

Important, do not let the renter know the actual eviction date. Give him a surprise.