Tenant not responding about Lease renewal

[Bishara M.]

Dear my wonderful BP Family,

My wife and I are Househacking in Carrollton, TX a 4x2 single family home. Renting by the room. The situation is as following, the Tenant's lease ends on Oct 31st 2021.

I sent out a Lease renewal asking if they would like to renew, 38 days before the lease ends, it's been over 2 weeks and they only "verbally" said yes they want to renew, but havent responded to any of my texts for the past 2 weeks. ( I only sent 3 texts).

I provided a deadline for make up their decision (Oct 8th) in that text, That was sent Sept 24th.

Today, Oct 8th, I texted for AN URGENT reminder, put a note under the door reminding them that today is the last day to "decide". No response or anything yet, I've been kept in the dark.

What should I do in my case? I reviewed the contract and unfortunately I didnt find any clause that states a deadline for their renewal decision or that it will convert month to month after, is it by default? 

How should I go about this? I'm really anxious at this point. 

Thank y'all in advance!!

[Nathan Gesner]

First, I would give this tenant a WRITTEN notice that I am terminating their lease and expect them to be out no later than midnight, October 31st, 2021. I don't like tenants that refuse to communicate or that play games. They're probably shopping around for other rentals which is why they're dragging this out.

Second, learn to set deadlines and enforce them! When you offer a renewal, give them a deadline to respond and include consequences for failing to respond. My lease renewal offers them three options: renew for one year at $XXXX rate, convert to a month-to-month lease at $YYYY rate, or move out by [DATE]. I set a deadline for them to respond within 14 days and make it very clear that if they do not respond by that date then I will assume they are terminating and I will market the rental to others.