My tenant hasn't signed the renewal lease yet

[Mark Berge]

I dropped off the renewal lease about two months ago, his current lease ends the last day of this month. His father who is elderly and cannot drive is living with the tenant who is on the lease. The house is in good repair (this is my first rental property) and I take care of issues promptly like the washer that broke, I bought a new one, I changed the toilet when it stopped working, I paid a roofer to put a new roof on, I paid a mason to repair the front entrance stairs. I called the leasing agent who got the current tenant in and he said that my asking rent was very reasonable and he could get a new tenant in no problem.

The current tenant (his first year) always pays on time and takes care of the place. I told the tenant that I have to know soon and he said he will let me know if he will renew the lease in a day or two. 

Any suggestions? I self manage this property so I deal with any thing that comes up, but I use a realtor to find tenants.

[Nathan Gesner]

When you need the tenant to take action, always include a deadline and a consequence for failing to perform. When I offer a lease renewal, I give them a hard deadline by which it must be signed and returned. If it is not, they are automatically enrolled in a month-to-month extension at a higher rate. Once they see that higher charge, they'll figure out how to operate a pen again.