Help with a SHADY landlord

[Kendall Vrana]

Hi, all-- 

Before my fiancé, @Raymond Northcutt, and I had the notion to get into real estate, we were both renting. I was fortunate enough to have a landlord that gave me my entire deposit back on the spot-- no issues, no concerns, no headaches. 

Ray, however, was not so fortunate. He and his roommate were renting the top-half of a duplex before moving into the home he bought. Even when he was living there, it was frustratingly obvious what a poor landlord he had. There were a few incidences, one being his refusal to fix leaks in the sink, when they were locked out of the front door (outward-facing knob was not working) he was still non-responsive. It wasn't until it was brought to his attention that his tenants were scaling up to the second story balcony to get in that he showed up. 

The real trouble began when they moved out. They actually moved out a month or so earlier than their lease was up, and meticulously cleaned the place. Still, radio silence. They followed up with him after their lease officially ended, and were assured that they would get their security deposit back within the correct time period (in Georgia, it must be returned within one month of vacating). 

It has now been 90+ days since the termination of the lease. Any correspondence, we are assured the check is "in the mail" or, after disclosing that the military housing authority was now involved, that we would "have it today". We have this all in writing. A certified demand letter has already been paid for and sent. Still, no response. 

We very much suspect that this is this landlord's business model. Where we live is somewhat of a transient area (military, traveling nurses, and at least two colleges in the vicinity) and that he has been able to get away with this sort of behavior because no one has dogged him for the money he owes. We have spoken to Ray's former neighbors, the downstairs tenants, and they have not received their deposit after moving out, either. 

We are now looking to sue. Unfortunately, we need his personal address to do so. Obviously, his mailing address has been a PO box. We have not been able to get ahold of him...anyone have any advice, or experience, in this sort of situation?