So, I am not sure how I would pursue damages and unpaid (2 months rent) if I wanted to.In hind site I should have kicked them out, but I didn't - lesson learnt.  

Very certain we overpaid, but it was a dire situation where the old one broke and had caused water damage and the tenant didn't notice for a month... 

While this isn't common, I have know people that bought their first rental and when tenant moved out, had caused close to $20k in damages and skipped town after one year of living in place.  

I offered a reply asking about damage to gutter.

I've been looking for a reputable attorney to work with but havent found one locally yet to hold my hand through DD on the first few deals.

If they choose to stay, let them keep smoking because the damage is already done.

Select a company with good reputation for accurate results.

What happens if there is damage to your property and there is no security?

Living in Raleigh, the reputation of those areas isn't always the best.

I suggest reaching out to @Jorge Vazquez He's been in the Tampa market for over 20 years and has a stellar reputation for helping investors.