Do I need to send a Notice to Quit to tenants for damages?

[Trish Murphy]

Hi All, 

I had new tenants (students) move-in in September, and 1 week after moving in I had to let the water company in to change the meter. I couldn't believe what I saw! The place was party central!!  Beer pong tables set -up in the living room, empty bottles of vodka all over the place, garbage piled up in kitchen. Food thrown into kitchen sink., on and on,,,,

So, I left there saying I was going to evict and once I calmed down and spoke to the parents, they begged and pleaded with me to give them a second chance. Well I gave in and did. So now, it's winter break and I sent out an email to all (including parents), saying to be sure to leave the heat on 50 degrees while away, and that I would be going there to check the filter in the furnace. I went there on the 27th of December, and it was extremely cold in the house, so I looked at the thermostat, and it was on 64 degrees.  I then turned up the thermostat, and it never came on!!

So, to make a long story short, I went to the basement and the emergency switch was turned off. So no heat had been on in the house.!! I was livid, that if I hadn't gone there, over the next couple of weeks, the pipes could have froze. In addition to no heat, there were numerous other damages throughout the house, door knobs ripped out, holes in interior doors, a/c cover missing/broken, fast-food bags laying around half eaten, bottom basement step broken. 

I am sick about it  and  want to evict them, because it's not going to get any better.  It is now December 27th, and I have a letter written out in email but I am hesitant to send to the students and parents because it is so close to rent time, maybe I should wait until the 5th of January, so that I get January's rent first?  I'm also worried that if I do try and evict them, they are probably likely to do other damage, before our court date.  I found a form online today for a "Notice to Quit", which gives them 3 days to leave. We all know this won't happen, but I do want to follow the legal procedures.   So does anyone have any input on what I am and have been doing so far. I can't imagine what it would be like to have them for another 5 months. 

My questions are: do I send the Notice to Quit in an email right away?   Or, do I wait and send in beginning of January. 

Second, what can I do to not have the tenants totally destroy the house, before going to court? 

Trish