So let’s see. You’ve got brand new tenants (so no record of regular payments yet), they should have paid this month’s rent over 3 weeks ago, and you are new to the landlording game.
You are sooo underwater. You have already taught this lying tenant you are a pushover. They have now even less incentive to perform than they did on July 5, when you should have served a 3-day notice to pay or quit.
PatientlyWaiting has given you some good points and pitfalls above. Basically, I would go straight to an eviction attorney who does nothing else–they are cheapest and fastest.
I’ve had hundreds of tenants, evicted dozens–some by myself and some with an attorney. You cannot imagine the mines you can step on, especially with professional tenants, which your description tells me you have now.
Also, don’t take any advice from people not experienced in this field. Some posters here think they have to throw out lengthy opinions on every issue.
If you are going to stay a landlord–and maybe its not for you–get some of the many books on the subject and read them thoroughly.
