Previous owner refusing to send tenants deposits after purchase

[Alex Nelson]

I just purchased my first duplex. After the sale, i realized that the seller never transferred me any of the deposits on the leases for the tenants. I also found out that the information that he gave me to contact the tenants with is no good. By the time i was able to get ahold of them by knocking on their doors multiple days in a row, one of them had already paid the next months rent to the old owner as well.

In all between the deposits and that rent payment, the seller owes me $1975.00 for this. I asked the seller to sent this over to me, and his response was “this was never brought up during the deal. I don’t think i’m required to do anything now after the deal has closed.”

What should i do? Should i hire a lawyer and go after him for my money? Is this my fault for not outlining this in my lease? Do i just take the 2 grand hit and move on? This is my first property so i realize this is a learning experience. But i really don’t want to be hit with this big of a set back right out of the gate.

Any advice would be appreciated.