Late Rent Payments - and cancer

[Steve Cribb]

Hello, We have rented our SFH in march 2025, way below the market price - and tenant in his 70's moved in with their daughter's family of 4.

Initial 1 or 2 payments were made on time - and recently tenant disclosed that he had cancer and it came back; july rent was paid on 15th - and August rent had not paid so far. Initially promised to take care on 08/20 - but tenant his daughter and son-in-law all are on the lease and dont respond to text/phone or email.

I had to follow up every month multiple times for them to pay the rent - and looks like August had reached its point.

I would really appreciate if someone can share their inputs on how to deal with this situation ?
follow up for them to take care of rent OR evict them ?  What are the ground rules that we need to setup if the rent payment slides past 5th of the month ?

how to communicate with tenant ?

I haven't evicted anyone so far, do I need a lawyer to evict near Nashville area OR can be done by self ?

[Caleb Brown]

Not sure specifics on your area but if they are past due on rent you should be able to evict. It stinks they are going through this situation but you also can't have them live there rent free. If you are self managing I would contact an attorney and go from there. Maybe see if the tenant is willing to break the lease early so the eviction can be avoided. Could be a relief for them but help the situation go by quicker. Make sure you are doing everything needed/required by the law and keep things in writing.