Tenant not paying Rent: What are my Options?

[Gash Nag]

I have this situation.. My tenant worked for a company paid by Federal government. Since January he has been telling me that due to Sequester his pay is delayed.. And in Late March I was finally told the Government check is not coming. He has a new job now and he will pay me once pay check comes.

He asked his Hiring manager to call me and tell me that he got his job and will be paid in April. I looked in Linkedin and the name, phone number, title of hiring manager, company were authentic.

So I trusted and gave time until April. I still did not get paid for the rent and tenant tells me new company has not yet paid him.

I feel stupid that I believed tenant.. and I am loosing money.

On advice of a Realtor friend I served a 3 day notice and just spoke to a Eviction firm.
Questions I have are:
a) What are my options to get the money owed by Tenant?
b) Since I spoke to Eviction attorney, I am not talking to tenant anymore. Is that ok or should I do anything?
c) How can I put this information into the Credit History of Tenant, so that it shows up there?

[Jon Holdman]

When someone goes to the gas station, they have to pay before they drive away. If not, the cops are are called.

When someone goes to the grocery store, if they walk out with their buggy without paying, the cops get called.

If you go to the barber shop and try to dart out the door without paying, they call the cops.

Why? Because these people are thieves.

When someone lives in your house and doesn't pay rent, the same thing applies. They're a thief. There is no room for emotions. If they can't pay, they leave. Sometimes things do happen. If the rent can't be paid on time, we agree upon a specific date when the payment can be made. About a week or 10 days is as late as its going to go. We agree on the amount, which includes late fees. If there's no payment on that date, the eviction starts. If their paycheck is late or whatever, its their problem to short out, not yours.

All this should have happened back in January. Can you do it next time? Because this will happen again. Its the nature of this business. If you can't deal with this you should either hire a PM and let them be the bad guy or get out of the landlord business.