General Landlording & Rental Properties
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies

Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal


Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback
Updated about 6 years ago on . Most recent reply
Tenants Ghosting at End of Lease
I have a lease expiring at the end of January. The tenants have paid for neither December nor January. They have ceased communication, even when I attempt to discuss utility transfers. I am under the assumption that they will not be paying me another penny at this point. Is it worth pursuing via the court or should I simply cut my losses?
For reference, the property is in Pennsylvania and it can take months to bring any real action or evict a tenant. Even if I was awarded a judgement, collecting, particularly when they will very much be unlikely to provide their new address, is a whole other matter entirely.
As a follow-up question: Will I be liable for what I am all but certain are unpaid utilities?
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Most Popular Reply

It is my business practice a to always pursue tenants of non payment. Once I obtain a eviction award I file in small claims court. I do it as a routine, some times they settle, some times I garnish wages, sometimes I get nothing.
Unlike most landlords I do not make business decisions based on a defeatist attitude.
In your case since you did not act on Dec 2 with a pay or quit notice you have dug yourself into a deep financial hole and I would advise you initiate the eviction process and peruse them in court to collect. The cost is minimal.