Tenant not leaving, Eviction has been filed

[Tan Frendley]

I purchased a condo in August, 2019, which was occupied by a tenant. After the Closing the leasing agreement got forwarded to me and I became the new landlord. Tenant struggled to pay rent on time but still paid rent plus any late fee up until December 2019. Came January, she texted me that the Refrigerator is having some issues. It is clearly spelled out in the leasing agreement that I provided the Refrigerator as a courtesy and it is not my responsbilty to fix it. But I was kind enough and offered that she pay the $75 repair deductible according to the leasing agreement and I will pay the rest and take care of the issue. Apparently, tenant don't like to pay anything and feel entitled to call for small repairs as if it's their right — they don't even properly read the leasing agreement.

Anyway, she got nasty and started getty angry and used bad language and said she won't be paying me any rent. I thought, she is just angry and must be kidding. I was proved wrong. She did not pay January rent. Not only that she stopped answering my phone calls, text messages, and emails. I tried my best to resolve the issue amicably and even offered that she could pay partial rent or whatever she could afford so she can complete her lease, which is ending on March 31, 2020.

I was wrong again. She changed her number. I sent her a eviction notice via certified mail, which she refused to receive (postman tried delivery few times). She did not go and pick the eviction letter from the post office. I sent my Realtor to knock on the door and talk to her, she did not respond.

I called her emergency contact — her mother — but she was just uncooperative as she. I told her that your daughter is not paying rent and she must leave or I will file for an eviction. Her mother did not care either, she hung up on me, and stopped receiving my calls.

So now I have filed an eviction. I know I wasted a lot of time. This is my first time eviction and I was so much lenient. Court date is March 16th. I have hired an eviction company to represent me. I have provided them the leasing agreement and all the payment information. She basically is living for free in my house since January 2020. 

I am afraid that she is so crazy that she may not leave even after the judgement. Which means, I have to spend more money to pay for writ for possession. She would eventually have to leave but I am afraid she will damage my property and just run away clean. Of course she won't be paying me a single dime. I can file for collection but that's pretty much it.

Why would anyone (tenant) do that, is she not scared that she will have an eviction record in her rental history and collection for non-payment of rent. It would be extremely difficult — if not impossible — for her to rent another place. Why is she playing this game, to hurt me? Yeah, it's going to hurt me financially but she would end-up more hurt.

My question is: Is this a norm? Do most tenant not care and go this far? Any sane tenant would want to avoid eviction and collection — when they know they are on the wrong for non-payment of rent and squatting in someone's property. 

Thanks for reading my post, I look forward to hearing everyone's feedback.