Tell a tenant to only 'damp' mop, the think you said "mop the hell out of that damn floor", and that's what they'll do.

All that said, if you're trying to keep it informal, if you go and meet someone at the apartment you're looking to sublet, it's going to be a damn near 0 chance they just broke in and are showing something they are not really renting. 

Be sure you disclose the possibility of outstanding redemption rights and have a mechanism to refund some portion of the payments if the property is redeemed. 

I like the North Jefferson County area: Gardendale, Morris, Mount Olive, and a quiet (but outstanding place) Corner. 

Congratulations on this outstanding deal!

And, if your eviction courts also award monetary damages for unpaid rent, then also don't drop it unless all of their outstanding debt to you is paid.My cautionary tale. 

You're likely 100x better than me on paper and I've financed about $10m so far this year  (though I can't refi my damn primary home since my tax returns show no income -- but that's another topic).  

I would pay back $120,00 on my HELOC, which would give me an outstanding balance of $20,000 on the HELOC which I would need to pay back to the HELOC.  

So no, that money isn't for this months rent, its towards outstanding balance and as such you would deposit it and then cover it when you write back to him where his security deposit goes.

Have an outstanding day!