Dealing with delinquent tenants

[Irv Rowe]

The situation: Tenant has been given written notice to vacate premise on April 8th (tomorrow) due to breach of lease. Tenant has not paid April's rent. Tenant is owing on water bill. Tenant has not responded to any communications from me (written, e-mail, texts, or calls). Now she has texted me that the fire department has deemed the stove in her apartment as a danger and cannot be used until replaced or repaired. Do I have an obligation to fix that stove? and what are the possible outcomes to this situation if I were to fix the stove or not. It is safe to assume that she will not be leaving the apartment tomorrow and I will have to start the eviction process through the court on Monday. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[Thomas S.]

You gave written notice but what has she given you. Do you have any written notice that she is leaving, if not you need to evict. It appears that you have not properly process her termination and that you do not have a agreement for her to vacate. Begin the notification process immediately. File for eviction and take her to court for rent and water bill if she does not pay.

Getting rid of a tenant is not as simple as telling them they must leave. There is a legal process that must be followed as out lined in your state landlord tenant regulations.

As for the stove, have it checked and replace if necessary, confirm if she damaged it and charge her if she did.