You can do it in a non-threatening, but firm manner.I'm betting, from personally renting and owning in rural areas, that you would probably have no problem renting to someone else, because there are probably few rentals in the area - right?  

I'm sorry you bought a dump, but expecting a tenant to put up with a regular sewage problem that interrupts their lives, causes unsanitary conditions and stink, at minimum, then a sewage flooded basement, while continuing to threaten them with eviction, when they probably can't afford to move?  

Also, this tenant has so far been very friendly and non-threatening, which is why I was trying to work with him. 

My worse fear is that if I threaten eviction but they know I can’t evict right now they just stop paying and/or trash the place or something 

@Russell Brazil1 tenant was furloughed but still insisted on paying. 1 tenant threatened to not pay not because she didn’t have the money or was unemployed but because she was “scared”.

This renter has recently violated the lease with an unauthorized roommate which would cost me more to evict and most recently threatened if I raise the rent at all "he and the next door tenant will move, but he will fight it I am most certain!

There is probably a charity that would even help him pay it, but he has to pay it.If his voucher gets threatened, he may get it taken care of right away.  

I was new with this at the time, didn't know to add myself as an additional insured so I'll be notified when it's cancelled.My plan was to file a claim directly against his insurance.I was mad he pulled a fast one on me and threatened to evict him.

Not in any type of threatening manner, but simply as a business person asking for help - understanding the problem, but presenting how it's possibly also creating problems for good landlords like you.I've, over my long life, actually had good experiences doing this - going straight to the mayor or city manager.  

Two months later, B has no job, and A confronts him  A and B have a fight, B threatens A and A is forced to move out for safety concerns.