Tenants Who Vacate Early or Get Evicted

[Steve Rozenberg]

Who Do You Use to Go After Tenants After They Vacate Early or Get Evicted?

[Account Closed]

The life of a landlord can be very frustrating as we have to deal with...

• Tenants who pay late
• Tenants who complain about every little thing
• Tenants who make huge demands after moving in when prior to the move in the house was beautiful and oh so perfect.
• Tenants who hold over when they should have moved
• Tenants who leave in the middle of the night
• Tenants who are evicted and still owe you a ton of money
• And last but not least Tenant Damages

Extra Mentions

Landlords are viewed as

• Cold people
• Courts view us as Villians
• Tenants view us as Slumlords
• Neighborhoods view us as the "Dastardly Landlord"
• Friends and Family view us as "being mean" and RICH !!!!

So Steve with that said and done to answer your question.

ALWAYS GET A JUDGMENT:   Why?

• It goes on their record
• You can garnish their wages or income tax returns
• You can renew the Judgment when it almost expires and it will follow them around until they eventually pay or file for bankruptcy.
• You can hire a Collection Agency, (Like I did) and they will hunt them down like Columbo. (I got paid 11 years later when they finally moved back into my state)

Foot Note:

If they left and only owe a small amount of money, let's say half the rent, and left the rental unit in A-1 condition, then I let it go.  I'm talking about big time money owed that I would do all of the above.  

Even though it is a "hassle" to go to court, think of it as your "Continuing Education" in the landlord biz.  You will witness other cases and get a ring side seat as to what other landlords go through.  This prepares you for what might happen to you in the future, and allows you to revamp your lease agreement or application forms.  It is truly a learning experience.  

Nancy Neville