Tenant drove car into property before moving out: advice please

[Daniel Okunbor]

My tenant just before she moved out of the house, drove her car into the house and caused a lot damages. She called at the middle of the night lamenting over the incident pleading that it was an accident. I instructed her to call the police and report the incident. She indicated that the car was her mom's and that she contacted her mom and she indicated that there was no insurance on the car. I waited for her patiently to repair the damages and but she is not responding to my text messages and phone calls any longer. She used her grandma address on the police report. I have repaired the damages out of my pocket for fear that intruders might cause additional damages or steal the appliances. In the police report, it was indicated that license plate is from Virginia, however the picture I personally took of the car has a Tennessee plate with the same number as indicated on report. It is already one month since the accident and two weeks since she moved out of the house. She left the house in a horrible condition with some of her very old and dirty furniture. All appliances, refrigerator, dishwasher and range is a very filthy condition. She remembered to turn off all utilities, water and electric. This is the first time something like has happened to me and I would like some advice on what to do in such circumstance. What do I do to recover the cost of damages, including unpaid rents? Thank you.

[Patricia Franciulli]

What happen to your landlord insurance?? I would pay a company to find the new address for this tenant and send her a demand letter requesting payment in 10 days. Then I would sue her in a small claim court for the damages.

But to be honest to you I do not think you will ever be able to collect from this tenant bc it look like she is broke...