Incentivise the tenant to vacate before the Section 21 expires?

The tenant has rented the two-bedroom mid terrace house since 2009 and is now five months in rent arrears. A Section 21 has been served with all the correct documents checked by a legal firm. The Section 21 expires on 25th March.

It took numerous visits, emails and telephone calls to arrange for the expired gas safety certificate to be renewed. The tenant sites poor health, as the reason not to allow any visits. The property is untidy, but has been well maintained.

There has been no communication from her, and I expect her to stay after the Section 21 expires, as she likes living there. This would need to go to court to seek possession and rent arrears. Apart from obtaining a CCJ, I don’t think she will ever be in a position to pay back the arrears.

If I wish to incentivise the tenant to vacate before the Section 21 expires, will this have an impact on taking her to court to seek possession and trying to reclaim the rent arrears? Any suggestions are welcome.

Also, if they refuse to leave what would be the next step?

Thanks,

Martin