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Updated over 10 years ago on . Most recent reply

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243
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Justen Ashcraft
  • Braselton, GA
57
Votes |
243
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Tenant broke lease agreement, what are my options?

Justen Ashcraft
  • Braselton, GA
Posted

I'll try to make this as short as I can.

I had a tenant sign a 1 year lease, but in the lease it requires a 60 day notification.  the lease was to end October 31 of this year.  6 days prior to that she said that I may be getting a call from a prospective landlord.  I told her about the clause in the lease and that she would be forfeiting her deposit etc.  The prospective landlord calls me, and I tell her about the 60 day clause that my tenant was about to break etc.  She decide.s to rent to her anyway.  she moved out on the 1st of November, but the carpet was destroyed among other things in the property.  She also owes money for the electric bill that I kept in my name.  This was a verbal agreement, because she wasn't able to qualify for electricity there due to owing the company.  Which was a red flag I know.

I'm obviously keeping the deposit.  which is $650.  The carpet that needs to be replaced is $1084, and the electric bill is $200.

Should I eat the extra costs and let it go, being thankful she moved out?  Or, should I make a claim somewhere and try to recoup some of the funds. 

Thanks in advance.

Most Popular Reply

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1,456
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Patrick L.
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Saint Petersburg, FL
951
Votes |
1,456
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Patrick L.
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Saint Petersburg, FL
Replied

If the tenant doesn't even have the funds/credit to get electricity in her own name what makes you think that any judgement you pursue will ever have any shot at being collected?  

I don't bother because here between filing fees, process server, attorney fees (here in FL  business cannot represent itself in court, you must hire an attorney if your property is in your business name).  I'd be out close to $700-800 for a worthless judgement

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