Problem with my tenant

[Amanda Flynn]

We are first time landlords, trying to do everything by the book in michigan. We didn't want to rent out the second half of our duplex as we eventually plan on turning it into a single family home. But we had a friend that was in desperate need of a place for her and her 2 kids. We sgteed to rent to her at a lower than market value for the area,  but she would be responsible for all utilities. She told us what she made and it is actually 4 times the amount of monthly rent, michigan only requires 3 times. She said her job was stable. Since day one she hasn't payed on time or even all of it at once (after telling us she had the move in money, she moved in and we had to break up the payments because she didn't actually have it). She had changed jobs 3 times. She refuses to give us her phone number so the only direct communications was social media or certified letters. We allowed 1 pet in the beginning... she brought in 3. Spoke to her, and she said she wasn't going to make her kids choose which pet to keep.. When we gave her a notice to quit through certified mail, she blocked the social media communication. She didn't pay the water bill until a month late, so we had to pay it to not get a lien. Now our homeowners and property taxes have gone up and we seem to be covering the water utility, so we raised rent (she is a month to month tenant and we gave her 30 days notice) only a little, but it stayed in that income is 3x rent bracket. She unblocked social media to say she is not paying more, and there are repairs that need to be made, complains her electric/gas bill is too high even though she was supplied with a Google nest thermostat that I helped her program twice, and she is moving out but won't tell me when. I told her give me a list and we will give you 24 hr notice before we enter to fix. No list, and blocked again. Remember no phone number either. Now her kids and/or pets have ripped up window screens, popped screens out, bought a paddle boat and leaves it on the grass. Has allowed her guests to drive through our grass, has left windows open when her heat is going. And pet her kids (6 &3) play with yhe water spiket unsupervised (yes this time her water bill is even higher than the other one she didn't pay on time). We are at a loss here.

[Nathan Gesner]

Stop talking to her. 

Hire an attorney to evict her. 

Do not talk to her in any form. All communication from this day forward is through the attorney. It's going to cost you some money, but you'll be done with the problem and can regain control of your property.

Do not talk to her again. Ever.