My friend owns a store, he’s had a tenant for the last few years that was in a 5 year lease.

The lease was over at the beginning of October and he’s had a new tenant ready to go for the last few months but the current tenants are refusing to leave.

He defaulted the current tenants and they are only submitting the regular rent payment without the added default percentage

The new tenant had submitted a 3 month deposit and a security deposit (75k) that he’s had for the last few months. and have been waiting to move in and are now getting impatient that they don’t have a lease in writing yet. What are my friends options here? How soon is he able to get the current tenants out?

What can the new tenants legally do if they aren’t happy since they have nothing in writing? The new tenants have been paying for insurance for the building for the last month also because they had planned to move in as soon as possible. This is in DC for reference.