A renter who signed a contract, but never officially moved in... is he still obligated to pay the rent?
We rented our home out to a guy who signed the contract for renting (possible lease to own) our home. We gave him the keys and the remote to the garage. Because he moved in on the 20th of the month, we prorated the rent to be 1/3rd of monthly rent. He gave us a check for 1/3rd of the rent, however asked us to wait 2 days before cashing the check. We waited 4 or 5 days before cashing the check, only to be told that the check bounced. We tried to contacting the renter, and he said he was out of town and would talk about everything with us in a few days. He called us after a few days, explaining that his counselor adviced him not to move back in with his wife (he originally wanted to rent the home for his ex-wife and him to get back together). He said he was willing to pay us for the 1/3rd rent. However, I informed him that he had to notify us 30 days prior to moving out (ACCORDING TO THE CONTRACT). he said "alright, I'm easygoing, I can pay that". So he agreed to meet me on one morning at the home. (I FELT bad for him so I said if he gives us the check soon, we would accept the 1 month rent without the 1/3rd rent) Well.. I went to the home and waited for him for 2 hours (calling him numerous times), his phone was turned off and he never showed. I called him and his daughter for 2 days straight and never got an answer (his 13 year old daughter said he was out of town, I didn't want to tell her the details of this issue). He finally answered my call this morning saying he was still out of town and he would be back by later tonight. I was trying to tell him about how I waited for him for two hours, but he disconnected the phone before I was able to explain anything. I sent him a text message explaining that I waited for him, and need the keys and the check as soon as possible but never got an answer! WHAT DO I DO!?!? PLEASE HELP! I have his social security number? do I HAVE to hire a lawyer? we just want our money and keys back!!

(I really don't think we're being unfair in this ordeal.. we're just really frustrated.)

he asked us to be patient with the deposit, so we split the deposit in 3rds and was going to have him pay 1/3rd of it every month for 3 months. so we do not have a SINGLE cent from him. HOW DO WE GET MONEY FROM HIM? and what are we entitled to from him? PLEASE HELP!

if we change the locks, can we make him pay for the cost of the locksmith?
this renter looked so trustworthy, I don't think he even goes to our property at all. I just feel uneased knowing he still has the keys to the property and can come and go as he pleases.