How To Get Rid of Tenants AND a Squatter

[Andrew Rosenbaum]

Just got my first deal under contract and it's definitely an interesting one to say the least. It's a triplex set up like a twin with one half of the property being a single unit and the other half being two units. The situation is a bit strange but it's an off market deal and the owner passed away quite awhile back so the estate is finally liquidating the property. The rents are well below market value (I'm talking 50% below) and haven't been raised in 20 years. Both tenants on the one side are paying their rent though and are on time so that's not a huge deal. The single unit half though is a whole other situation. That tenant stopped paying rent when the owner died because nobody came knocking for it. The tenant has been there for roughly two years now. Other than the obvious option of having a conversation and trying to get the tenant to either begin paying or ask them to leave, what rights would I have to get them out and if anyone has experience, how messy can this process get if the tenant is uncooperative? I know I could also do cash for keys which may be my second approach if a normal conversation won't work. Ideally, I'd like to renovate all three units and then BRRRR the property. With current moratoriums on evictions, I believe I'll need to wait till at least the end of the year to evict the two paying tenants but can I evict the non-paying tenant? Would love some input here.