If you have a month to month lease with a tenent, and the tenent refuses to pay rent and they won't vacate. Do you have to evict them by the courts.

Yes, the only legal way to remove a tenant is through a legal eviction.

Yes, although some landlords break the law, they only open themselves up to law suits for illegal evictions.

And I will be blunt, if you own a property and are renting it, you needed to have a sit down with an attorney before you started renting it. You would or should have had a month to month rental agreement in writing, and even have sample forms for giving "pay or move' notice, and other notices you will need to be giving.

Also be prepared to sue for additional damages of unpaid rents and damage to property, Also if you supply any appliance in the home, do you have a list of all serial number if they turn up missing with the people do move.