Tenant evictions commonly occur due to nonpayment of rent or lease violations; tenant evictions are also common when a lease expires and the landlord wishes to terminate tenancy. In the case of a month to month rental agreement, a landlord may choose not to renew the contract, and an eviction notice may be served. In the case of evictions for nonpayment of rent or other lease violations, a landlord must give notice of eviction and allow a specified number of days for the tenant to pay rent or correct the violation. If the problem is not corrected, a landlord may then file an official eviction complaint with the court. Tenants are given a chance to defend themselves in a court hearing, and if they fail to make their case and a judge rules against them, they will be forced to leave their home and may also suffer financial penalties. Tenant evictions may appear on credit reports and show up in background checks in the future.