Looking for options with losses from a bad tenant

[Will Spruill]

I’d like some advice on my options as a property owner and a tenant who stopped paying rent, move out 5 months in to a 2 year lease, and caused $4500 in damages along with stealing all the appliances. I’m an out of state investor (live in Seattle and the property is in Indianapolis). I work with an Indianapolis property management company who has been no help.

Is it worth my time to recoup the lost rent and damages or do I have something to work with? Is it worth going after a dirtbag who has nothing to begin with?

Thanks, Will

[Mike D'Arrigo]

Will, you can get a judgment but sometimes that's like getting blood from a turnip. Unless there's a reasonably good chance that they have assets and you can recover something, it's usually not worth the cost and time. Why isn't the property manager pursuing it for you?

Mike