Eviction filings in Dallas approached 40,000 in the last year alone.

You never want to contribute to these statistics as a landlord, but poor tenants give you no choice. The eviction process is long and drawn out, causing plenty of stress for everyone involved.

To mitigate the risk of having to evict a tenant, there are a few things you need to think about. The first is to thoroughly screen all of your applicants to make sure you find the best candidates. The other is to enforce your lease agreement as needed.

Today, we'll discuss lease enforcement and give you some landlord advice to protect your rental property. Keep reading and you'll know what you need to do to keep tenants in line.

Write a Detailed Lease Agreement

The more detailed you are when drawing up a lease agreement, the easier it will be to enforce. Whenever you have ambiguities in the agreement, there'll be miscommunication. Tenants with bad intentions will also be able to exploit the ambiguities, which will cause you headaches.

Think about all of the issues that could arise with a tenant and come up with ways to prevent them. Write these into your lease and you'll always be able to enforce the rules on your tenants.

Prioritize Communication

It's important to maintain a high level of communication with your tenants. If you want to avoid evictions, make sure you and your tenant are on the same page as much as possible.

The more you allow the frustration of lease violations to build up, the worse your tenant relations will be. You need to address issues promptly and keep things transparent, encouraging the tenant to do the same.

Perform Property Inspections

Regular property inspections can help you keep a closer eye on your rental investment. Texas doesn't restrict the number of times you can perform a rental inspection, but be mindful of your tenants' rights to privacy and quiet enjoyment of your property.

An inspection or drive-by every few months can tell you if a tenant is violating your lease agreement. Look for clear signs of violations, like pet stains, unauthorized tenants, or drug paraphernalia when you do inspections.

Obtain Security Deposits

Lease enforcement doesn't always have to involve confrontation. Collecting a security deposit is another great way to incentivize your tenant to comply with the lease agreement.

There's no limit on how much you can ask for a security deposit, either. Asking for too much will drive away good tenants from applying for your unit. Strike the right balance, however, and you'll deter poor tenant behavior while giving yourself some insurance against it.

Taking Lease Enforcement Seriously

You can take a multi-faceted approach with lease enforcement, as we've demonstrated here. A lot of landlords think that rental lease enforcement involves conflict, but it doesn't have to. These tips will ensure your tenant respects your property without you having to tell them to.

If you struggle with managing your tenants, it might be time to hire property management. Evernest is Dallas' top property management team, offering comprehensive services that include tenant screening and lease enforcement. Contact us today to learn how we can help you.