Frustrating issue: this year’s tenant group’s lease is ending at the end of May. The tenant initially said she would form a new group by the end of April and sign a new lease (it’s a college type 4 bed rental house). She got one tenant who applied, but he just said he is not interested in signing. The other prospect never got in touch. We delayed advertising because she said she was sure she could form a new group. She did not. She now says since she signed the lease for this coming lease year she is entitled to stay whether we agree or not. Lease says that full security deposit is due May 1st. Nothing was paid. Also, not signed by anyone but her. Seems to be an expired lease, yes? Just today a new group came along and said they want to sign. They are a serious tenant group… My Question: What’s the best way to tell this tenant that we are leasing it to a new tenant group, since her lease was only partially signed and no deposit was paid by the due date? --146.75.xxx.xx

Would it be fair to phone her with the situation and update her on the business situation and the plan you are taking to love forward? Not asking permission just stating facts and dates and unsigned , in funded agreements and tell her the move out dates and whatever she needs to know to part ways? Is that too hard. Run your business. --172.58.xxx.xxx

Or take her to "lunch" and lay it out. --204.10.xxx.xx

Thanks for these quick replies. I will note the partially signed lease with the expired due date for deposit. And explain that eviction and being sued for the deposit amount is not worthwhile to her. A friend said to offer half deposit back now to sweeten the issue. But there’s nothing I did wrong. So why do I need to sweeten it? Anyone disagree, let me know. Seems I should just run through the misfires on her part re the lease, remind her of move out date, and making it clear. --172.226.xxx.xxx

Ted(NJ) you are only negotiating with yourself. Keep those in mind but have the conversation first. Don't make any decisions on the phone. After you say your spill then listen to her reply, then say you will weigh everything carefully and follow up with her tomorrow or later on the day for when ever --172.58.xxx.xxx

Yep. I was definitely negotiating with myself! I’m trying to get some feedback on what to say that will make things smoother, versus what I could say that will make things worse. I was fuming this morning so glad o didn’t call at that moment. Just a call to calmly say how things stand and how they are going to go. --104.28.xx.xx

RB, what do you mean by take her to "lunch"? --23.233.xx.xxx

A 17 year long tenant/tenancy refused to pay rent this month, saying she would give me the check by the 10th of the month. I handed her a "Notice to Pay Rent or Quit". Her 7 adult children called me a jerk. Eviction soon or rent in my hand. --47.155.xx.xx

She gets more accomplished by going to lunch with the person than others do all day long. --107.147.xx.xx

Refused to pay after 17 years! They agree about getting right to the “notice to pay rent or quit” right away. The sob story is always a story. Money can always be borrowed, found to pay rent when it’s needed. Once had a client who said she couldn’t pay rent by the first, because of a family emergency, and it turned out she flew to Hawaii with her boyfriend! --104.28.xx.x

This tenant is STILL not cooperating, even after I took everyone here’s advice. She said the due date for the application was “arbitrary” because it was May 1st and she didn’t like it when she signed, and only had a couple weeks to get it ready. Then, she said that the lease is still valid, even though her co-applicants refused to sign the jointly and severally lease, and the deposit deadline was MISSED. She says she gets to stay because even though the current lease is jointly and severally she considers herself sole tenant of the jointly and severally group. (The other tenants all agreed they are leaving.) I am currently telling her move out is the last day of the month at 12 noon. New tenant group is in the process of leasing. She says she will make her own group in the next few weeks. Adrenaline kept me up most of the weekend! Any advice? It’s like arguing with a cinderblock…. --172.226.xxx.xxx

Notice to quit to Ms. Uncooperative et al. --64.246.xxx.xx

She’s telling you and now it’s time for you to show her. Follow the steps for eviction. As many steps as it takes for her to learn that nothing she says matters. --75.75.xxx.xxx

LL/tenant lawyers have become quite a specialty in NJ. --73.35.xx.xx