Need Advice - Unable to get hold of tenant at my unit for 6 month

[Zulf H.]

HI There, I need some advise here as this situation is unique. I have a tenant at one of my properties - they have lived there for over 5 years and have always paid rent. Since last year due to covid they have been late. However I haven't received any rent since Dec of 2020. I spoke to lawyers but I can't start the eviction till July. 

The problem I have is this tenant is un-reachable. They don't respond to emails, don't respond to calls or texts. For the past 2 months they don't have electricity in the unit but they have all other utilities as I pay for it through association. I am out of town but I did send my prop mgr there few times and only once she was there and said she would pay the rent. The bldg handyman has said they see the person once a week comet of the apt.

I thought with the recent support from govt. I could recover the rent so I applied but they are unreachable to complete their portion. This is so frustrating as I am doing my best to help her but she won't return my calls or email. This is probably the worst experience because I can't even communicate with this tenant to come to a solution that would help her and also help me get my rent. 

What are my options, has anyone dealt with tenants like this during the cover pandemic that just don't respond to any email or calls for months. What option to do us landlord have in these type of situations. 

Thanks for your input. 

[Jennifer T.]

Yep.  Have a tenant doing the same to me in the New Orleans area.  I also can't file for the state rental help without her filing also.  

Unfortunately, it depends substantially on your jurisdiction.

Orleans parish (county) allows eviction filings for non-payment of rent, but aren't scheduling those cases yet.  However, you can also file an eviction for other reasons and those cases are being scheduled.

We've been doing a property inspection about every two months.  There was a good bit of damage recently.  Bingo!  I was surprised to find out that we don't even have to give her the option to pay for the damage.  I doubt she would anyway.  But it doesn't matter. We can go straight to evicting her for property damage.