Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Massachusetts
Eviction Process Approximate Costs and Time Frame
I own a townhouse, and took in a roommate to help make ends meet. The living conditions in his room are deplorable and he does not pay. The agreement was everything split in half, and I'm lucky if I get anything. Checks bounce continuously and he refuses to pay cash. The most recent was he stopped payment on the last check. I have asked and even demanded that he leave and he disappears for weeks at a time. My question is what is the approximate time frame of an eviction process and what is the cost to me as the landlord?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Eviction Process Approximate Costs and Time Frame
It takes a long time, usually several months. Typically
an attorney for a landlord asks for a retainer of $2,000 to
$5,000 to evict someone, but usually it doesn't take that
much; typically they will refund most of that, but sometimes
it takes all of that to get the job done.
Timeframe: if the tenant isn't paying rent, approximately 5 or
6 weeks, assuming they don't pay up on the rent and don't get
a laywer or good advice on tenant defense.
If there's a potential for big problems, fights, there's a statute
useful for tenants who are roommates.
I think I answered this question for you a few weeks
ago, didn't I? Maybe I didn't do such a good job.
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