Revoking lease renewal

[Nick M.]

Hey All!

Situation: I purchased a property in Nov 2016, inheriting a habitually late tenant. In December 2017 he was late and promised in Jan 2018 he would pay on time. Well, he's late again and claiming he will pay by 1/19/18. His current lease ends on 2/28/18.

Not knowing he was going to be late again on 12/30/17 I emailed a 60 day renewal letter indicating rent was going up and it was turning to month to month. In this letter he was given option to decline and leave by 2/28 or renew.  This same letter was mailed 1/3/18

Now that he's late I have no desire to keep him as a tenant. I do not want him to renew.

I am seeking to understand:
1) Can I show the apartment while he is an occupant (lease says so!)?
2) Can I revoke offer to renew in light of tenant being late on payment (lease says eviction proceedings begin on 10th day of month, with rent due by 5th)?
3) What should amended renewal letter state so he is out of apartment by 2/28 (or soon thereafter)?

Location of property/tenant: Philadelphia, PA

[Amy Beth]

I think you should consider hiring a property management company and let them handle it. The fact that you even sent a rent renewal option for a tenant whom is habitually late makes me wonder if you are suited for managing the property yourself. I understand that you now regret it because of the last late payment but if the tenant has already been habitually late it defies logic to have even given the tenant the option to renew in my opinion.