Dick,

Congrats on keeping an eye on your property.

Your leverage is your resident.

I don’t know Illinois law, but here’s what I would do.

Send a certified letter and post a copy on the door or give it to your resident. Set a firm date for the unauthorized person and their personal items to be removed, perhaps 20 or 30 days, but it must be a firm date.

The letter must also have a penalty for noncompliance. Mine would say the authorized person in their personal items Must be removed by X date or sheriff eviction will be filed the next day.

Anything less will have no effect and only lead to more frustration.

Do what Brad said.

Tomorrow.

I would absolutely exercise your right to conduct a property inspection (check smoke alarms, check for leaks under sinks, and ensure the hoarder hasn't blocked hallways and that junk isn't creating a fire hazard - e.g. near a gas water heater).

Follow your states' rules regarding required notice and go have a look at the place....that should help motivate you to do the right thing and get rid of the hoarder and probably the original tenant (since they let the hoarder move in).

Exactly what Brad 20,000 suggested and as quickly as DJ suggested.

Don't make your situation about hoarding. Hoarding is recognized as a disability under the Fair Housing Act Amendments (FHAA).

Your situation is about the unauthorized occupant.

Best of luck getting rid of the hoarder. I just got rid of one that has been with me for 4 years. The ex-tenant was a plsnt lover and had her bathroom and bedroom packed with plants. What room that remainded was filled with boxes from floor to ceiling. I have extensive damages of mold in the bedroom and bathroom since she was using a humidifier causing constant moisture in the rooms. The boxes prevented her from properly cleaning leaving 4 years of dust. The extenant always paid rent on time and never caused problems until I seen the damages mentioned above after she moved out.