Brand New Landlord in NY - Need advice on un-clear situation

[Dennis Rupert]

So I just bought a 3 unit rental house in Fulton, NY on 5 Feb 2021.  I know the person I bought the home from and have a little bit of back story.  Have tenants in one of my units who claimed they had been COVID positive back in November 2020 which kept them out of work.  They never went through the COVID rent relief process with New York State and just worked it out with the owner/landlord at that time.  Just before I closed on the home in early Feb they paid in full all the back rent with the previous owner.  **Also note that their lease agreement I inherited from the previous owner ended yesterday 28 Feb 2021.**

I reminded them multiple times last week via text message that we needed to handle the lease renewal and rent collection before 1 March and they just chose to not respond. (They are good at not responding for days)

Now today I sent them a message letting them know that we had to finalize these items no later than today.  

Then I get this whole story about how they tried filing for COVID rent relief with New York State and support through Social Services and the previous owner didn't follow through with the paperwork, etc...., etc......

I called the NYS COVID rent relief line and there is nothing on file for him or his girlfriend, therefore nothing is in place concerning a COVID declaration that I would need to adhere too and the deadline to file for assistance was 1 Feb 2021.  So in my eyes rent is still due.  Even though he claims he cannot pay the rent because he hasn't received assistance yet.....(remember earlier that he managed to pay all back rent in full to previous owner) and his girlfriend who is also on the lease currently works.

So knowing about the non-factual stories and the lease technically over yesterday, here is where I don't know what to do and looking for advice......

If I send a non-renewal notice and give them their 60 day notice (based on their tenancy being between 1-2 years total), I am sure he will delay everything knowing that there are no evictions till after 1 May 2021 in New York.

If I send the 5 day late rent notice and then the 14 day demand for rent, its useless because I cant evict and at anytime when there is a new rent relief program in NYS (which I was told today is coming soon), he will just declare for assistance and I will be stuck again.  

Should I just allow him to sign for a 3 month lease to get me through May and have a chance to re-coup the rent when he goes for rent relief or social services assistance. And then after 1 May do a non-renewal letter if evictions open back up and things don't get better with them.

I know based on some of the things that have happened I should be able to just do a non-renewal but it seems like from my research to this point its a lose, lose situation for landlords until after 1 May or whenever NYS lifts these silly protections people are taking advantage of. 

Sorry for the novel, just wanted to get the facts out there as I see/understand them with my limited knowledge.....anyone from New York State have any good advice for how to handle this situation I am in??

Just a brand new landlord in a seemingly hopeless spot and not clear what to do, any assistance is greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!