To Evict, Or Not To Evict?

[Kyle Baron]

Hello fellow Bigger Pockets members - My name is Kyle and I am a beginning investor in Minneapolis Minnesota (my property is in Anoka county), and I am wondering whether or not I should evict my tenants!

Here is my situation:
I own a Duplex, and I moved into one side and inherited tenants who currently reside in the other side. The tenant situation on the other side has changed multiple times since I've closed on the property and became their new Landlord. The tenants are a family of Mother, Father, and four children (one of which is an adult). When I closed on the property, it was just Father and Son (the eighteen year-old son), but then the Mother and three other Children moved in, but then the Father moved out, and I am left with Mother and four Children. The lease agreement is signed by the Mother and the eldest Child (being that he is an adult). The tenants won't pay rent. I got December's rent, but nothing for January and nothing for February yet. The lease agreement changed when the Father moved out and took his security deposit. It changed such that rent increased slightly because of more people in the space, an addition of a cat in the space, and that they now owe a new security deposit of their own. Late fees of 8% incur three days into the month. The tenants told me that they could not pay the security deposit in full, and asked for payments instead - I said yes, four payments over January February March & April will be fine (their lease is up in December of eighteen). The tenants now owe January's rent, January's late fee, and January's Security Deposit, as well as February's rent, February's late fee, and February's Security Deposit.

They have told me that they have applied for 'Emergency Assistance' through the County (their assistance is through Hennepin County even though they live in an Anoka County property). At first they told me that I need to 'write a letter stating that they were my tenants and include they they were late on rent and by how much.', so I did. Days went by and I asked them where their rent was. They came up with 'It's being approved, I'll call them tomorrow.' Days went by. 'Now they need this.' Days went by. 'Now I need this and I'm getting approved for two months instead of one.' Days went by. 'Now I need this from you, and I'll turn it in tomorrow.' Days went by. 'You should be getting a call.' Days went by, and here we are. Six weeks without any payments of any kind - Should I Evict? Is there any way that I can find out if their Emergency Assistance is legit and will be sending me a check? The tenants keep pushing me off and coming up with excuses, and I have been extremely compliant and patient and cooperative. I want to keep the tenants, I really do, but does anyone have any insight or experience with this sort of matter?

Thank you for reading my long post, I look forward to hearing back from you!