Victory after tenant trashed apartment!

[Amy A.]

I recently made some tenants move out of their 2 bedroom apartment because they were allowing their dogs to urinate all over the floors and carpets. The downstairs neighbor said he'd never seen them take their dogs out in a year. The smell was incredible, burned my throat when I went in there! I also found a drug pipe in their apartment, so I think they were often too stoned to care. I had to rip out the flooring and some underlayment and seal the entire subfloor with Kilz.

The tenant soaked the apartment in deodorizer and thought she'd get her deposit back. I never told her she would not, just that I would send her a statement. Once I had a quote from my contractor for a new floor, I sent her a statement with the charges she owed and a summons to small claims court. Since she thought she was getting a check, she signed for the certified mail and saved me the cost of having her served by the sheriff.

Her mom promptly called to argue with me about it and told me she had nothing so I'd never collect. I told her that I wanted it on her record so she could never do this to another landlord. Next, they offered me $2000 (the total was $5500). They said to take that or she'd declare bankruptcy and I'd get nothing. Very cocky. I didn't respond so they called me again to offer more. We settled at $2500, which she would get from her grandmother. I had her sign a statement that the boyfriend is responsible for the remainder, so it'll help when I file against him.

Yesterday I got the bank check! I would rather they had not trashed the apartment, and I'm making no profit from this settlement, but feel satisfied that justice was served with this tenant. Everybody told me not to bother with small claims court, but it really worked for me, and I didn't even have to go to court!
I just wanted to share my little victory story, they seem rare these days.