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Updated over 4 years ago,
COVID -19 non-paying tenant - recommended actions?
Hi All, recently acquired my first investment property (triplex) in DE. I have one unit successfully rented, one unit still under the renovations, and one unit that is not a success. My tenant received help from an organization to cover her security deposit and 1st months rent. Moved-in in March, right when COVID-19 state of emergency started with a ban on evictions and she lost her job in April. My tenant has not paid any rent since (April, May, and June). I put together a re-payment plan with her, which she signed. But since then, she keeps avoiding me and standing me up after she says she would meet with me. DE state of emergency is projected to be lifted on July 6th. I hate the idea of filing for eviction (she is single a mom with two kids), but I also do not want to be accused of stalking her while I try to catch her to speak in person and get a feel for what is happening. The way I see it, she should be getting $600/ week for unemployment (total $6,600) + stimulus of $2,200 + she mentioned a tax return. so in the passed 11 weeks she should have gotten at minimum $8,800, which is more than enough to pay $2,925 in passed-due rent and live on.
I have been serving her weekly notices with balances due after every weekly installment payment is missed. I invite her to call me if she wants to discuss any alternative options, to which she responds that she will, but never does.
Are there any other options I can try to give her incentive to start paying or is my only option to file for an eviction as soon as the state of emergency is lifted (assuming Heroes Act is not passed).