RAFT Runaround in Massachusetts

[Pamela W.]

My husband's tenant owes him $7000 in back rent since she moved into the apartment in April. She paid the April rent, and nothing since. She texts him periodically that "she's going to the bank" and will be sending the rent but never does. She has applied for RAFT, but over the last three months, the case keeps pingponging from the Lowell to Boston office for some reason. He's called both offices repeatedly, been told it's approved, then it's closed, then someone re-opens it saying they seem to have all the information. He's spoken to an attorney as well about possibly initiating an eviction, who said his best hope for getting any money is working through RAFT. How long should he wait in hopes of recovering any monies before filing a notice to quit and start an eviction. How much do attorney fees typically cost for an eviction; he's gotten estimates from $3000 to 10,000.