Commercial tenant is in arrears. Refuses demand 4 bldg. OK to change lock?

Unless the lease specifically waives the tenant's rights to it, you will have to file a dispossessory with the court and allow them a chance to respond to the eviction.

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The foregoing is general information only, not specific legal advice. No attorney/client relation has been created or should be implied.

The number one document which governs both the landlord and tenant's rights in a commercial lease is the lease itself. It may or may not give you the right of entry, the right to change locks, etc. Generally speaking you want to avoid "breach of peace" in effecting any self-help remedy (changing the locks is considered self-help). Because the tenant is going to yell and scream when his property is locked up, it is difficult to effect this remedy without getting crosswise with the law.

If you have unequivocally demanded possession (and a demand which says, "if you pay me you don't have to move out" is NOT an unequivocal demand for possession, then you can proceed to filing an eviction process (dispossessory) in the county wherein the property lies. Once the tenant is served he has 7 days to answer and a hearing is generall scheduled within 3 weeks.

Nothing in this posting on www.avvo.com shall be deemed to create an attorney client relationship. In the event you require specific advice on the legal steps to take, you should consult with an attorney of your choosing and discus such matters in private in order to protect the attorney client privilege. This attorney is licensed in Georgia only.