In a lease, if a tenant fails to make payments, which is a common next step for the landlord?

When a tenant fails to make rent payments, a common next step for a landlord is to file an unlawful detainer action. This legal process is initiated to regain possession of the rental property after a tenant has defaulted on their lease agreement. Essentially, an unlawful detainer action serves as a formal eviction process, allowing the landlord to seek a court ruling to remove the tenant from the premises.

Landlords typically seek this route when other methods, such as communication or negotiating new payment arrangements, have failed. The unlawful detainer action legally sets the stage for the landlord to reclaim their property and is especially pertinent in jurisdictions where strict legal procedures must be observed for eviction.

Other options like re-negotiating lease terms may not resolve the issue of non-payment effectively, contacting the tenant's employer does not address the immediate need to regain possession, and starting foreclosure proceedings is a process applicable to property owners facing default on mortgage payments rather than lease agreements. Therefore, pursuing an unlawful detainer is the most appropriate and structured response for the landlord in this situation.