Unpaid Rent - Tenant Moved Out

[Michael L.]

Dear Experts,

I had a tenant who was two months behind and under the threat of having an eviction on his record agreed to voluntarily move out and pay the owed amount at a specified later date. I drafted a document using one of the templates online saying that tenant is moving out and landlord is regaining a full possession of the property. We've added a clause with an agreed amount that tenant owes to landlord as a delinquent rent and it is to be paid on or before a certain date. We both signed the document and tenant did move out as per our agreement. 

Now my question is about the money. I tried getting tenant's new address, but he wouldn't give it to me. He doesn't want to communicate and I get an overall feeling that he won't just magically show up with the money to pay as specified in our agreement. What are the ways for me to chase that money past due date? Does the document give me any new options of addressing the collection?

I've already rented the place to new tenants, but would still like to recover at least some of the money.

Really appreciate your advice!

[Kimberly H.]

@Michael L. 

 they called it flat fee collection.

[Kyle J.]

Originally posted by @Michael L.:

What exactly puts a delinquent account into one's credit report? Is it triggered by a judgement? I might just do that to make sure he has it in there for everybody to see until the time he pays me.

 You could use a service as simple as this one: Debt Reporting Service

[Michael L.]

Thanks, Kimberly. I just saw your post right after I submitted mine.

Thanks, Kyle and Joe.

I'll wait until the debt is due and make a final attempt to contact him. Then use reporting or collection agency. Looks like it's easier now than I have anticipated.

Really appreciate all the advice.

[Robert Carl]

@Kimberly H. 

@Kyle J. 

Good advice and something I didnt know. Now I can add that to my tool box for collections.

[Robert Carl]

When I answer any post on BP? I will try to tell you the proper solution and what my happen. Not say its not worth it. Thats not an answer to the problem or solution if you want to pursue something. If I listen to many BP members when I asked the question on here I wouldn't have found out how simple and non time consuming it was to sue and garnish wages for unpaid rent in my state.

[Robert Carl]

Originally posted by @Robert Carl:

When I answer any post on BP. I will try to tell the proper solution and what may happen. Not just say its not worth it. Thats not an answer to the problem or solution if you want to pursue something. If I listened to many BP members when I asked the question about collecting unpaid rent on here I wouldn't have found out how simple and non time consuming it was to sue and garnish wages for unpaid rent in my state.

[Greg H.]

@Robert Carl 

But what you did find out from BP is that you cant garnish wages in Texas

[Robert Carl]

@g     yup

@Greg H. undefined

[Nina Sylvains]

@Michael L. undefined

What template did you use? I'm in the same situation and wanted to get a contract for my tenant to sign stating that she knows she owes back rent (5 months worth!) and will pay it back. I'm in Oakland, Ca and this city is not friendly to Landlords. If anyone has any information that is specific to Oakland concerning this situation it is greatly appreciated!

Best, 

Nina