How to Put a Friend or Relative out of Your House

How to ask someone to move out

Has a friend or family member overstayed their welcome at your home? It may seem like evicting someone is a difficult chore, but there is no need to worry—you have several choices available to you. We’ve highlighted several courteous but strong methods to send someone on their way, as well as certain legal steps you may take if the situation is very stressful. Not sure whether you want to kick a friend or loved one out? We’ve got you covered there, too—scroll down to section 3 for tips on establishing ground rules for all of your houseguests. You may simply take charge of your life condition if you have the correct communication style.

1. Requesting Someone’s Departure

1. Determine the reason you want them to depart. Before you begin the talk, you must be certain of your own rationale. Examine any agreements you made when they moved in, as well as any promises made/broken. Examine the issue and their present conduct, and base your conclusions on facts. While “I don’t enjoy living with them” is a legitimate cause to ask someone to move, you require precise information before talking to them, such as “they never clean the dishes,” “they claimed they would leave months ago,” and so on.

• Make a note of the problems as they arise, along with the date. You’ll need a clear, precise record of their actions in case things grow heated.
• This will not be an easy talk, and it will almost certainly harm your relationship. Living together with severe disagreements or conflicts, on the other hand, may harm your relationship, therefore you must take a position if they’ve been there for too long.

Tip: If you established ground rules before they moved in, the talk may be easier. Before anybody comes into your house, it’s wise to write a contract detailing expectations.

2. Speak in a calm and courteous tone of speech. Even if you are feeling violated, fed up, or sick and exhausted, it is critical that you do not erupt and make excessive demands. Explain your reasoning for requesting them to go, and let them know you realize how difficult this is for them. Speak to them like you would a coworker, focusing on facts rather than emotional outbursts.

• “We’ve liked having you, but we sadly need our space back and must ask you to go in the next two weeks,” say the hosts.
• Depending on the cause for their stay, you may need to obtain information on community support agencies to assist them in moving out on time. Help them get in touch with emergency homeless-prevention agencies if they are at danger of living in their vehicle or on the streets. They could even be able to secure some kind of temporary accommodation.
• Keep the reasons you wrote down before in mind. If they’ve been a problem or broken promises, tell them that they haven’t kept their half of the agreement and need to find a new job.

3. Give specific, impersonal reasons why they should go. Do not answer with phrases like “because I despise you” or “because you’re a slacker.” Instead of attacking them, give them concrete examples. This is when having a list comes in helpful. If they are a continuous source of problems, keep a record of each incidence and the date it occurred. When they ask “why,” give them a couple of concrete examples of occasions when they violated a commitment or caused you difficulties.

• When possible, focus on your reasons for asking them to leave rather than all of their defects. “We need more room,” “We can’t keep you here any longer,” and so on.

4. Give them a specific deadline by which they must go. Telling them they have to leave that night may generate a great deal of worry and strain, and your friend or family may be without a place to stay. Instead, designate a date by which they must go and inform them that this is a hard deadline. In general, try to allow them at least 1-2 weeks, or until the end of the month, so they can plan for their next move.

• “I’d like you completely moved out by April 20th.”
• If there is a legitimate reason why that date is bad, you can talk with them to find a better day. However, don’t shift by more than 3-5 days.

5. As a good will gesture, seek out information or alternatives. If you have the time and resources, put up a list of suggestions to assist your guest’s move. You may even bring them to the debate, informing them that they must go but that there are alternatives. They may reject your suggestions, but demonstrating that you still care about their well-being might help to lessen the impact.

6. Make a solid, unambiguous, and consistent conclusion. Hold your ground after you’ve chosen to put them out. This talk may get tense, and emotions will erupt regardless of how prepared you are. You must, however, maintain your resolve and adhere to your choice. If your roommate can persuade you to alter your mind, they’ll discover they can keep violating rules and pledges without ever changing. If you’re going to put things out, you should be prepared to truly put them out.

7. Recognize that this may harm or destroy your relationship. Putting out a friend or family is difficult and will almost certainly result in enduring resentment. Finally, bear in mind that having them in your home for an extended period of time might be as damaging to your relationship. If you are frequently arguing, your friend/relative is taking advantage of you, or you are just mismatched living partners, your relationship will only deteriorate if you continue to live together. Having said that, there are certain things you can do to keep your friendship alive. You may:

• Assist them in finding a new home or career.
• Even in difficult times, avoid insults. If they get angry, be cool and restate why it is critical that they find a new place to reside. Don’t start hurling obscenities at people.
• Make plans to meet, invite them over for dinner, and continue to see one other as friends.
• If you get into a heated argument or have severe problems, it may be wise to cut them off totally.

2. Removing People Legally

1. Send a certified letter requesting that they depart within 30 days or fewer. While a house visitor is not legally a tenant, if they have been with you for more than 30 days, some tenant-landlord regulations apply to the arrangement. Speak with an attorney who can assist you in drafting and sending an eviction notice. Giving this early notice in writing is critical to limiting your responsibility.

• This notice will legally classify them as a “at-will renter.” You’ll need this status if you need to file a lawsuit, so don’t miss it.
• Be careful how you write the letter so they can’t utilize tenant laws to stop you from evicting them. Check your state’s rules, and make it clear what kind of living arrangement you had with the person, particularly if they are not paying rent.

2. Fill up an official tenant eviction order and submit it to your local courts. If they still refuse to leave, you have the option of taking them to court. If they pay for food or bills, they may be considered a “at-will renter,” making it far more difficult to lawfully evict them. If they reject the first written warning, you must begin legal eviction procedures with your local district court to remove them.

• In general, your letter will specify a location for them to collect their goods if they do not relocate, as well as the particular date their items will be taken from your home.

Note: If you want to get a court order, you should have a list of difficulties and violations (known as “just cause for eviction”), as well as a copy of your lease and any agreements.

3. Unless you are concerned about your safety, do not replace the locks. If you unexpectedly evict an at-will renter, particularly if their things are still in the residence, you may face expensive civil litigation and legal proceedings. In the improper circumstances, changing a guest’s locks might result in prison time if it creates issues or shuts them off from their property. Furthermore, it often exacerbates existing high tensions and might lead to further problems.

• You may securely replace your locks if you obtain a court order and/or have informed the authorities that you are concerned about your safety.

4. If they still refuse to leave, call the cops. They may be removed from your property as a “trespasser” unless they are a legal resident of the residence, which is normally confirmed if they get mail or are on the lease. Obviously, calling the police is reserved for the most severe instances, and even mentioning 911 is often enough to send someone out the door. Some police departments will refuse to become involved in a situation like this. However, if you have submitted the letter and/or filed for eviction with the court, they will come and remove your visitor as a trespasser.

3. Establishing Ground Rules for Houseguests

1. Establish your ground rules and limits early on. If you get the impression that someone is becoming more of a roommate and less of a guest, establish some ground rules as soon as feasible. This offers you something to stand on when it comes time to throw them out; instead of becoming emotional, you can go back to the concrete guidelines you established before.

• Within the first week, establish your expectations. Is it necessary for them to pay rent? Do they have to go on job interviews? Set specific goals for them to achieve if they want to remain in the home.
• A written and signed informal contract is the best approach to establish the ground rules and expectations for both of you. It’s much better if the paperwork is notarized. Most banks provide free notaries to customers who bank with them.

2. Create a timetable for their departure. Before publicly asking them to leave, sit down and inquire as to when they intend to go. Put the ball in their court, and it will be simpler to adhere to the move-out date as it approaches. If they don’t have a timetable in mind, you should come up with one jointly. Make a firm commitment, such as “when they find a job” or “after 6 months.”

• If they need a job, set specific objectives for them to achieve, such as applying to one job each day, revising their CV, and so on. Check to see whether they are truly looking for work and not simply taking advantage of the free bed.

Tip: If you are unsure if they should move in, set up a trial period. Tell them when they move in that they have 2-3 months, after which you will decide whether or not they may remain .

3. Make a note of any concerns or problems that develop. If a friend or family is violating the rules, being rude, or breaking their commitments to you, record the event in a little notebook along with the date and time. Again, this provides you facts to bring up when discussing leaving with them, rather than broad generalities or emotive appeals.

• Maintain as much impersonality as feasible. Asking someone to leave does not have to be the end of a friendship, particularly if your reasoning is based on facts rather than sentiments.

4. Assist them in getting back on their feet. Some individuals will leave on their own if they are gently nudged. Examine their resumes and cover letters when they seek for employment, accompany them to open houses, and urge them to branch out and become independent. If you can assist someone in becoming self-sufficient, they may leave without generating a squabble.