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?