Tenant will not leave after lease expired and ownership change

[Snehal Patel]

Hello,

I have situation where I now own a rental property in cook county outside of Chicago limits where an existing tenant resides who had a 1 year lease with the previous owner. The tenant had not been paying rent for the previous few months and the lease expired may 31st and a 30 day non-renewal notice was provided by the previous owner before the ownership change. Now that I own the property I would like the tenant to vacate as per the notice so I can renovate the property. I asked the tenant to vacate however they are refusing to leave. What are my options? Any good recommendations for legal advice? 

[Scott M.]

If they refuse and a 30 day notice has expired you need to go to court.  You can offer them cash for keys as well.  But if they refuse your only recourse will be through the courts.  Don't delay, get eviction filed ASAP.  Every day you wait and wonder if there is something else you do is another day wasted.  Even if you are going to offer cash for keys and even if they say they will accept it, file the eviction case.  they can always back out or change their mind.  Start the clock ticking.

Also, you should make sure the 30 day notice done prior was done proper and that you can piggyback on that.  I am not sure of local laws.  What I am sure of is you will regret not getting this process started.