[F] I have been an exceptional tenant for the past 3years at my apartment. In the last 5months, I had a baby and have been slowly falling behind in rent. My rent is $1300, and I have been paying about $1100. I have communicated with the landlord each month, and according to him, everything is OK.Anytime he has asked for a certain amount by a certain day, I have complied. I have yet to pay my July rent. Yesterday, I received a 3-day pay or quit notice. I am trying to find out exactly how long I have to vacate the property. As I have a baby and very little cash. What are my next steps? Than you.

If you don't pay within the 3 days, then the landlord can file for an eviction.

That process can be as short as 30 days, and depending on the backlog, even much longer.

What ever you do, don't ignore the eviction notices.

If you do, you could come home to find out that everything you own, was placed on the curb, and that you now own only what nobody has taken.

Thank you for your advice. Do I file back once I am served the eviction?

If you don't vacate or pay, then the landlord files in court. If an eviction order is issued, you will be given a date by which you have to vacate. The next step after that is for a sheriff to physically remove you

There will be an option for you to answer the notice, and have a court date set.

Even if you have no defense, you can buy some time by just letting the entire process run its course.

With that being said, you do have the responsibility to pay this landlord as you promised to do in your rental agreement, and you should be doing everything possible to do so.

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Originally Posted by ScottGem

If you don't vacate or pay, then the landlord files in court. If an eviction order is issued, you will be given a date by which you have to vacate. The next step after that is for a sheriff to physically remove you

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Thank you for your response... Do I have to file back in court once I am served?

What do you mean file back in court? What you are required to do is pay your landlord and you won't have to go to court. Read the notice carefully, if you can borrow the monies to pay him pay him and avoid the mark on your record. By him giving you the 3 day paty or quit he is giving you the option to avoid the eviction process. If you are unable to pay then the proceedings to have you evicted will begin. God Bless

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Originally Posted by peaceandlove

Thank you for your response... Do I have to file back in court once I am served?

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When you're served it will give a hearing date. You can show up at that hearing and defend yourself. If you don't show up (or even if you do, most likely) your landlord will get a judgement for eviction, as well as a judgement for the monies owed to him.

You don't really need to "answer", like you would a small claims suit. You just pretty much either show up, or don't show up.

Can you come up with the rent? In some places the LL HAS to take the payment, in other places they don't have to take it - can just proceed with the eviction. And in a very few places (like Texas where I am) they can accept payment and STILL have you evicted for being late in the first place.