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The documentation they mention above is key, but before you get into a long and costly legal process, try a quicker route: send a certified letter giving him 14 days to either pay or vacate voluntarily, because if it goes to eviction court without you having given that formal and firm notice, the judge can back out. Once you have proof that he received the notice, then you go to a lawyer or property management firm to start the legal procedure, which depending on where you live can take anywhere from 2-3 months to almost half a year. Also keep in mind that during all this he'll keep living there without paying, so think about whether it's worth it or if there's a way to negotiate a payment plan that at least gets you back part of what he owes.

The first thing is to document everything: every notice of non-payment, every communication you have with the tenant, account statements, proof that they live there. Without that, any legal process gets dragged out like crazy. Keep screenshots, emails, SMS, everything. If you've sent informal notices, send an official one (registered mail or certified email) giving them a deadline to pay in, say, 10 days. Make sure it's in writing.

Once that deadline passes, you really need legal advice because the procedures vary depending on the autonomous community and there are specific timelines. Some lawyers who specialize in evictions don't charge for the first consultation. The usual thing is to file an eviction lawsuit for non-payment in court, but the process can take months depending on where you live and how long the courts take. In the meantime, keep documenting everything and don't do anything on your own like changing locks or cutting off utilities, because that's actually illegal.

Keep in mind that if the tenant claims vulnerability (unemployed, primary residence, minors in their care), some courts can temporarily suspend the eviction. That's why you need a lawyer who really understands the urban rental law in your region. It's not quick, I'm sorry, but it's the path that works legally.

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