Unresponsive tenant - what do I do?

[Jaime Mitchell]

Question:

What should my next steps be to get a reply from the tenant in my condo?

Facts:

I purchased a condo on 11/02/22 that I placed under contract on 09/15/22. It’s for me to live in for 1 year before turning it into a rental myself; I just moved to Colorado.

A tenant is in place. Her lease expires 12/31/22. The tenant has known since the property was under contract that she’ll need to move.

While under contract my agent never got a firm move date from the tenant (through the seller's agent). Just that the tenant would move before 12/31/22. Because of that, I’m remaining in my apartment until January 2023. The apartment needs work; contractors can get into the property when the tenant vacates.

The tenant and I spoke via phone on 11/04/22 (after the purchase) for the first time. I told her December rent is due 12/1/22 and how to get that to me. I asked if she’ll vacate on 12/31/22 or earlier. She asked if I’ll prorate the rent if she leave earlier. I reflexively said yes out of an impulse to be fair (I’m paying the mortgage for 12/23 so I shot myself in the foot). She said she’d maybe move by the end of November and that she’ll know within a week and a half.

The next day I texted her a recap of the conversation.

It detailed how a simple proration will work (since actually owes for all of 12/22). I explained that if she leaves before 12/16/22 - her rent will be HALF. If she leaves 12/16/22 her rent will be the full amount.I also recapped her security deposit, return of keys, etc.

Almost 2 weeks have passed.

On Thurs, 11/17/22 I texted the tenant (almost 2 weeks later) to tell her know we need to schedule the final walk through and to ask if she knows when she’ll vacate. She has NOT responded.

I don’t know if she is leaving this month or next month. I need to know, because I’ll be in and out of town and I have schedule the walk through. Plus, I need to know when she'll be out of the property?

What should my next steps be?