Tenants Trashing Apartment

[Raymond Wu]

DearBP Community, 

As a young investor and new to the REI world, I need some advice on a situation at one of the investment properties I currently own. I have tenants that moved in not too long ago with her five kids, and I recently got a call from the tenant regarding a leak. I went to the apartment the next day to fix the tenant's kitchen sink and upon walking into the apartment, I realized the apartment is a mess! The walls are colored with crayons, pencils, etc. The floors are scratched, there's spilled liquid on the hardwood floors. The radiator components are falling off, the window nets are slashed, and the kitchen cabinets are scratched and chipped.

I have a security deposit ($1600) from the tenant, but I’m afraid this will not be enough to cover the damages. The tenant is already having trouble paying the rent. How can I manage to get the tenant to cover the cost of damages beyond the $1600 amount upon lease termination?

Thank you,

Ray Wu