Renew lease or move on?

[Nathan Atkinson]

Over the last several years, tenant has made several complaints about issues in the house. Each time we take action, through property management, to have contractors solve/fix issue. Unfortunately nothing has worked so far. Just prior to our 60 day notice to vacate window negotiations to extend the lease started with us, landlord, raising rent 5.5%. Rent has not increased for the 4 years the tenant has been in the home. Tenant agreed and signed the renewal, we have not signed the renewal yet.

This rent increase seemingly upset the tenant enough to have her start to bring up more issue with the home, to her credit, actual issues. The crawl space needs extensive moisture work. This is likely the root cause of some of the other issues we have been battling for the last several years. She has also threatened us with not paying rent, which in VA she cannot legally do and threaten us with the fact that "They know I work for a lawyer".

We chose to take swift action concerning the moisture in the crawl space. Work to remediate will likely begin once final two estimates come in on Monday.

We also chose to separate with the current tenant and sent the 60 Notice to Vacate. Move out date is 30 Sept 19. 1 Month after school starts. Notice to Vacate was not given 60 days prior to original lease termination date due to intent to extend lease.

Tenant is now begging to stay and renew. She has no other options. Offering rent at a 9% increase and now offering to replace carpet.

Do I stick with the move out or renew? If we chose to renew, I feel the tenant would be bitter for the entire year and return to her original behavior.

Options:

• Renew but counter with an even higher rent. Possibly keep the carpet replacement.
• Hold Fast and continue with her moveout.