rental eviction

You have to start ASAP, there's a bunch of steps involved

start here:
http://www.visuperiorcourt.org/FAQ/FAQ_landlord.aspx

However...Overall, VI laws are VERY tenant-friendly... so get your ducks in a row ASAP!

Our Governor addressed this subject early after Maria.

Evictions will be LOW priority court cases due to the storms.
Landlords and tenants are encouraged to work together to find a solution. However, not having power in itself is not enough reason to not pay rent.

Did your tenant lose their job due to the storms?
Paying full rent might be a problem for them.

Are you able to provide them with a generator?
Again if they are not working or just got back part time, perhaps they can not afford one.

The stress of going through a couple cat 5 hurricanes, losing the ability to earn a living, no power for months now, not eating well and fear of losing ones home and remaining possessionscan be emotionally draining.

Compassion goes along way for someone in this situation! Working out a solution that will benefit you both maybe better than a long drawn out eviction.

Best of luck to you both...

anyone who doesn't have a job right now either didn't have the ability to have a job before the storm or just doesn't want to work.

I don't see that as a valid excuse at all.

Thanks for the court info. I guess I will contact our attorney and have her begin with a letter...hopefully will work without all this process but I am not going to just let her just live there for the 5 or 6 months that it might take for us to get current back.

She has a generator but doesn't want to have to put gas in it...costs money you know, even though her electric bills were over $400 month because she had to have a/c and who knows what else on. She is sort of self employed and not actually working on island, and not for a local company, except I'm sure not having internet access will be an issue, though other folks have worked out solutions...would be nice if she would just move back to florida...

Read your lease. See what was promised. If you're not delivering (functioning appliances, a/c, internet, cable, etc.) then it might be better to renegotiate rent than take a tenant to court. You'll lose.

Having been a landlord for many years, another option is to pay her to move. Give back the deposits and provide an additional month of rent as an incentive to break the lease. In the right circumstances, this can be a great investment and far better than legal options.

In the least, you can give her a non-renewal notice - that might be enough incentive to push her along. Send it to her in the mail and tack it on her door often. The old mail and nail strategy can work - be sure to give the option to terminate the lease.

You don't need a lawyer to do this. Get everything in writing.

Thanks for the court info. I guess I will contact our attorney and have her begin with a letter...hopefully will work without all this process but I am not going to just let her just live there for the 5 or 6 months that it might take for us to get current back.

She has a generator but doesn't want to have to put gas in it...costs money you know, even though her electric bills were over $400 month because she had to have a/c and who knows what else on. She is sort of self employed and not actually working on island, and not for a local company, except I'm sure not having internet access will be an issue, though other folks have worked out solutions...would be nice if she would just move back to florida...