Handling a tenant who won't move out after lease is up

[Lauren Haas]

I'm a newish landlord.  Last year, I bought a duplex that came with a problem tenant — someone I've since learned has a criminal history and a gun. He's never paid his rent on time, had sketchy people living in the place, involvement with the police, etc. I lost the good tenant in the other side of the duplex because of his behavior. I wanted to avoid an eviction process, so I've been eagerly waiting for his lease to expire on Feb 1. 

HI gave him 30 days' notice that I wouldn't be renewing the lease and offered him an additional 10 days' grace period to get moved out. He did not pay rent at all in January and hasn't responded at all to my messages about it. 

We're in that grace period now, but he shows no signs of leaving. What are my next steps? 

(also, I'm a woman who lives alone, a block away from the duplex, and I'm honestly a little afraid to rattle his cage too much.)

[Kevin Sobilo]

@Lauren Haas, I just wanted to give one suggestion. Get a PO Box. It sounds like you have a concern about safety when it comes to tenants and them knowing where you live.

Even a tenant who seems nonthreatening isn't your friend and you don't know them well. You need to provide contact info on the lease etc. So, with a PO Box no tenants will need to know where you live. That doesn't mean they can't figure it out, but at least it won't be quite as easy.