OK, my tenant moved out without any warning...

[Sam Leon]

I have several properties being rented and have been having pretty good luck...but last few months have been nothing but headaches.

Anyways this is a NEW case.

This condo I have a tenant, single guy. He was living there when I bought the property, I inherited the existing lease, and when the lease was up I presented a new, much tighter and professional lease. That lease runs till Jan 2014.

Tenant has been responsible, cordial, not trouble maker, I hardly ever hear from him except twice with plumbing issues and I sent a plumber to addressed them.

So imagine my surprise when the guy who I mail the HOA fee to every month, who is also a realtor, emailed me today saying he was sorry to see my tenant moving out, and would love to help me rent it...MOVED OUT? Five months left on the lease? No warning, no messages, no email, absolutely nothing.

I thought this must have been a mistake, may be he was moving some furniture in or out? I called - his number no longer in service. I emailed, no reply. I went to the property and sure enough, he's out, the property is vacant, except for some trash and a refrigerator with some left overs - thanks a lot!

I can't mail him as his address is the one that's been vacated.

He didn't leave his keys either. Sucks that the mail box key he had the only copy.

He signed the standard residential lease for apartment or unit in multi-family rental housing form by Florida Realtors...and yes he also signed an Early Termination Fee / Liquidated Damages Addendum where he agree to pay $1900 (2 months rent) as liquidated damages or an early termination fee if I elect to terminate the rental agreement and the landlord waives the right to seek additional rent beyond the month in which the landlord retake possession.

I am going to keep trying to locate/contact him.

Any advice as to what to do now? Do I clean out his trash and start prep on the place to rent or I wait a few days just in case?

Who moves out without a word?

[George Paiva]

Be lucky that they left willingly and that you didn't have to go through eviction proceedings. Clean up the place and put it back on the rental market and move on. Write off the month or so you lost rent and keep the wheels moving as this is just another cost of doing business.