How to evict a tenant who is abroad and does not pay the rent?

Hello,

I wonder if you can help me out.

Basically, I appointed an estate agent for my apartment. They signed a one year contract with the tenant. The tenant is out of the country now. The first-year contract finished in February this year.

He did not renew the contract although he was saying that he will come to pay arrears and sign a new contract. Now he said he doesn't have any money and is not coming back.

My estate agent is telling me that I can't get into my property because the tenant may claim he had valuables in the apartment.

What can I do?