I have a tenant in Fort Pierce, FL who is currently 2 months past due. Their lease expired in November of '06. The property management company stopped collecting payment from the tenants since the lease expired. They did not notify me that they would stop managing the property in November. I live 150 miles away from that property and I do not have the tenant's contact number.

1. Is it OK to go and try to collect the past due amount from the tenant without prior notice of my arrival?

2. If they are unable to pay, is it OK to serve them notice of eviction personally once I find out the correct amount of time allowed by local law in Fort Pierce? Or can I just tape the notice on the door?

3. What can I do about the management company and their faillure to notify me?

1. Yes

2. maybe, you have to be sure that they did not actually pay the management company. Do they know who owes the house and how to contract you? I am normally tough and hard, but since the management company droped the ball, I wouls say see if they want to stay and work out a payment plan to let them get caught back up.

3. And what was your contract with them, if they just manage your property, they should do so empty , rented by the month or by lease.
I would say that they have some liablitly if you have a written contract with them.