Trash and Dash

[Long H.]

This is in regards to tenants who deliberately trash, wreck, damage, etc your property before they leave (whether it’s because of eviction, unable to pay rent, etc…).

I have personally seen this happen to a friends and family members who failed to properly screen their tenant, had a inexperienced PM, and lowballed the rent. The tenant caused +20k in damage to the house (holes were made, appliances were destroyed, wires were ripped, pipes were broken, etc…) and were forced to sell the house “as is” to try to recoup their losses. 

Is there anything that can be done to the tenants if try/decide to trash and dash?