Why Some Tenants Won’t Leave Even After They’ve Been Evicted
Evictions are never pleasant for either party. But while many tenants vacate willingly after receiving a legal eviction notice, there are always a few who simply refuse to leave—even after a legal eviction has been finalized. Understanding why certain tenants overstay their welcome can help landlords, property managers, and legal professionals better prepare for these difficult situations.
Why Do Some Tenants Refuse to Leave After Eviction?
When an eviction is legally ordered, tenants are required to vacate the property. However, some dig in their heels and stay put until they are physically removed. These types of tenants often display predictable behaviors and characteristics, including:
Common Behaviors:
Ignoring notices and legal documents as if they don’t exist.
Making constant excuses about why they need "just a little more time."
Blaming the landlord or external factors for their situation.
Obstructing access to the property by changing locks, blocking entrances, or becoming confrontational.
Attempting last-minute negotiations despite the eviction order already being finalized.
Likely Personality Types:
Erroneous tenants who refuse to leave often share traits such as:
Entitlement – They believe they have a right to stay, regardless of the law.
Victim mentality – They see themselves as being unfairly treated and refuse to accept accountability.
Avoidant – Rather than facing their financial responsibilities or making alternative plans, they delay and deny the reality of eviction.
Manipulative – Using guilt, emotional pleas, or false promises to stall enforcement.
Why Won’t They Just Leave?
For these tenants, refusal to vacate is rarely about simple oversight. The underlying reasons often include:
Financial hardship – They have nowhere else to go and no funds to relocate.
Hope for a loophole – They believe some legal technicality will allow them to stay.
Revenge – They want to inconvenience or punish the landlord.
Denial – They refuse to accept that the situation is final and keep waiting for a “miracle” solution.
What Happens in Costa Rica After Eviction is Formalized?
Evictions in Costa Rica are a legal process governed by the Ley General de Arrendamientos Urbanos y Suburbanos (General Law of Urban and Suburban Leases). After a landlord obtains a formal eviction order through the courts, the tenant is given a specific deadline to vacate, typically communicated by a court official.
Once this period expires:
A judicial officer (also known as a notificador judicial) schedules a physical removal.
Law enforcement may be present to ensure peace and security.
If the tenant still refuses to leave, the officer has the legal right to forcibly remove the tenant and their belongings from the property.
The landlord is then legally permitted to change locks and secure the premises.
It’s important to note that, in Costa Rica, tenants may still try to delay the process through appeals, but once the eviction order is final, no further legal actions can halt the physical removal. The process is strictly enforced to ensure that property owners regain control of their assets.