Tenants Say They Are Moving Out

[Mike Hoefling]

I have a 1 bedroom apartment in Worcester, Massachusetts and they tenants say they are moving out by the end of September. They actually have me notice around August 18th through a text message. They let me show the apartment with them still there which is great and I have a new tenant who will move in the beginning of October. The problem is I have made calls/texts to them and they have not been responding so I am concerned they may not move out. Any thoughts?

[Shaun Reilly]

If your goal is to get them out of there for 10/1 so the new tenant can get in there I'd try to get in touch with them more.  Even say in a message that if they are worried about the $100 that they shouldn't and you are happy to let them keep it for being so helpful in letting you show the place.

At this point if you file and they are not planning on moving you aren't going to get them out by 1st and probably not any earlier than if you wait to post until next week.  However if they are willing to play nice and there isn't any real issue, or there is an issue you can help them deal with you might shoot yourself in the foot.

In hindsight you probably should have asked them to send formal notice after they texted or let them know you would send them formal notice based on what they told you.  No idea if a text message and the pattern of behavior (letting you show new people the place for a 10/1 move) would hold up in court to streamline things if it came to that.