Tenant not responding to new lease

[Todd Kozak]

The tenant hasn't signed the new lease and hasn't responded to my texts!

Background:

1. Bought a house a little over 2 months ago. Got a decent deal which is because there is already a tenant living there. She is a hoarder. She's been there 12 years and won't want to move. I took the risk to get the good deal.

2. Due to backlog of evictions, I'd rather keep her another year, give her ample time to find a new place, then in a year I can update the house and turn it into a nicer rental property which is the goal in the first place.

2. She did pay rent the first 2 months. September rent is late and it's the last month of the lease.

3. I mailed her a new lease 3 weeks ago and asked for a response by 9/01. We text but can't get the doc to transfer via text and do not have her email address.

4. Lease is $50/M more which is still under market value

5. No response. Texted her last weekend and nothing. Also no September rent yet.

Is there anything else I should do to prepare myself for 10/01 to come and I have no rent, no new lease signed and she still lives there? I know once it's October I can have a lawyer help with starting an eviction process if necessary.

What documentation should I be doing right now? What can I legally do since the old lease isn't up yet?

[Catherine Emert]

I would post notice to enter rather than just stopping by. If she gets the notice and calls you to say no you can discuss. If she doesn't say no then you can go to the property with the notice and have legal documentation that it was posted and that you informed her that you were coming.