However, assuming that you’ve chosen full-service rental management services, your rental agent will typically handle the legal proceedings. First, he or she will serve the late-paying tenant a “Three Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit.” If the tenant does not pay rent within the three days, your rental agent will file for eviction and handle the legal proceedings until the non-paying tenant is out of your rental unit.

Many rental owners choose to use rental management companies specifically because they don’t ever want to have to spend the time and energy it takes to successfully get through an evictions process. Many rental owners also feel that rental agents have an advantage when it comes to collecting rent in the first place. If you’re trying to collect rent from a tenant who knows you own the rental, they know you can bend or break the rules for them at will, whereas a rental agent has a legal obligation to make sure they pay rent on time.