Tenant dont want to pay but has money- Taking Adv of COVID

[Eve Oliver]

What do I need to do to recoup the money that tenant didn't pay. His lease expires on May 15th. In March when our state started hearing about COVID cases, he already said he couldn't pay and we extended the payment for a later date. We made payments agreement, he only paid half of it. Last week I decided to send a 5-day notice. He owes us for April and half of march but his lease expires in May. What's the best way to recoup the money he didn't pay.? I will file an eviction on May 1st but I want to make sure he pays what he owes us.

[Patricia Steiner]

The easiest way is to assign it a collection agency.  I recommend letting the tenant know that you are assigning the unpaid rent (plus late fees) to a collection agency and reporting it to the credit bureau as well.  I would give him five days to pay at most and if not paid by then, assign it.  Here's one that AAOA (American Apartment Owners Assn) partners with: 
https://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/solutions/rent-collection/

It's a flat fee service - and generally once the tenant finds out "it's on his permanent record," it gets paid.

Hope this helps; sorry you're having to deal with this in the first place.