No written lease does not mean a landlord can remove a tenant immediately. Rent payments, messages, and the parties' conduct may establish an oral or month-to-month tenancy with notice requirements.
Determine what tenancy actually exists
Look at how rent was paid, how often it was due, and whether the tenant had permission to occupy the property. A guest, a tenant, and a holdover occupant may require different legal steps.
Use the notice required by the state
The notice period may depend on the rental period, the reason for termination, and how long the person has lived there. State and sometimes local law controls the answer, not the absence of a signed document.
Do not use self-help eviction
Changing locks, removing belongings, or cutting essential services can create liability. If the occupant does not leave after a valid notice, the landlord generally needs a court order.
Document the relationship and the notice
Save payment records, communications, photographs, and proof of delivery. Those records help establish the tenancy and show that the required process was followed.