When an owner and renter enter into a lease, each party is endowed with certain legal rights that protect their interests. As part of the agreement when renting a residence, a landlord has the ability to legally remove tenants from the residence, in a process more commonly known as eviction. In order to begin the eviction process, the tenant must first be in violation of lease or rental agreement. Most evictions occur as the result of failed payments or refusal to vacate upon agreed expiration date. If a renter does act in violation of these terms, the landlord must first contact the tenant by providing a 3 day notice. If the renter still refuses to leave, the landlord will then file with local courts, which will schedule a hearing to determine if eviction is really needed. In cases where an eviction is deemed necessary, the landlord can legal remove tenants and belongings from the residence. Although eviction seems like a one-sided policy, it also protects tenants from suddenly having their utilities shut off or their privacy invaded without cause, as landlords must first file with the court in order to evict.