Tenant moved without notice! Help! (Illinois Only)

[Thomas Neely]

Hello Everyone, 

One of my tenants moved out without notice. She has not paid her rent as of yet for this month 7/15. I sent the 5-Day notice for eviction. However, when I drove by the property today it was completely empty without damage. I have tried to call her several times without an answer. At this point I believe the property is abandoned, but I am not 100% sure.

My question is, how do I handle this situation under Illinois law to get this re-rented ASAP? I have been searching but have yet to find the answer.

Thanks in advance!

[Alexander Felice]

Know your local laws for abandonment and hopefully you have it in your lease. 

If the place is empty you may have to wait a certain time if you have no correspondence before you can call her "gone"

How has she been as a tenant? Is she the type to just flake out and bail, or is she type to SEEM like she would bail and wait for you to incriminate yourself?

It's much more likely that she couldn't or didn't want to pay this months rent and just left you hanging rather than her trying to be overly malicious. With that said, tread a bit lightly. 

Your rent is gone, the sooner you can get her to fess up that she bailed the sooner you can find new tenants. She is avoiding you because she thinks you want cash. Express to her that you know she left, you won't pursue her or her funds if she just sends you an email saying she had to leave so you can both move on.