Need Advice - My tenants won't leave and I don't know what to do.

[Paul Shepherd]

I need some guidance.  I'm a new landlord as of last summer and the adventures have already begun.  I have a single family rental house and the tenants are a couple with a daughter and a couple of dogs. When I bought the place I told them that I would probably be asking them to leave sometime early this year and had them on a month to month.  I gave them a written 2-month notice on Jan 15th to vacate by March 15th which they both signed.  Well, March 15th has come and gone and they still haven't found a new place to live and aren't out.  They claim they have put in 25+ applications and paid all of those application fees and they haven't gotten one acceptance and haven't heard back from most/all of the places they applied for. Since I inherited these tenants, I didn't have any info on their backgrounds. They had lived in the house for 8yrs and wanted to stay, even for the short-term, so I kept them in pace and let them know this was coming back when I bought the place. He says they have no prior evictions or criminal record. I think they are just being lazy or too picky.  I've never heard of anyone having so much trouble finding a new place.   He says that every unit they look at there are 10 other people looking at them as well.  Them leaving was not contingent on them finding a perfect new place to live. 

I guess I'm looking for advice on how to approach this and how to proceed.  They are paid up through the end of March, which is in 4 days.    This has nothing to do with COVID 19 as they signed a document and agreed to be out by March 15th back in mid Jan.  Should I start the eviction process right away. If I do, should I not take any further rent from them? I'm guessing they won't be moved out by April 1. I'd love to avoid the headache, delay and cost of an eviction process if possible, but I'm not sure how to approach this. 

Nothing like taking some lumps early in the land lording game. 

Thank you in advance!!  

[Anthony Wick]

@Paul Shepherd. Why did you give them notice? What's the plan? Can you change that plan by a month or two? Do you really have a choice? If you cannot file for eviction in your area (which you probably cannot), then I would at least try and get more rent from them. Again, what choice do you have? Not accept their rent, and they live there for free for April? 

In writing, make sure you let them know of the document they did sign. But perhaps also state; "since you have communicated to me that you have been unable to obtain a new residence, I am offering a 30 day extension for your move. The terms of the lease and rent will remain intact until April 30. The full rent amount will be due on April 1. This is a one time extension of our agreement and notice for you to vacate the premises".