We have a cute two bedroom home that we rent out. It is on a large piece of land and very beautiful. All of the previous tenants we have had have cared for it like their own and all have stayed with us for more than 3 years but...the last family that just left trashed the place, they were only here for 3 months. They left behind at least two truck loads of garbage, junk all over the land. They removed the shower head and took it, closet shelves and hanger rods...even the toilet paper holder. The broke a window and replaced it with plastic, took down shelves and damaged the walls by doing so, all of the closet doors are off. When they painted they painted the windows (sheesh!)
I do not have a forwarding address or phone # but I'm sure I can track them down. What are my legal options here? I have never had anyone treat our property so badly and what makes them think they have the right to remove permenant fixtures for their own.
I am very angry and dissapointed.
Any ideas
2006-11-23 02:42:10 · 6 answers · asked by twistedkitty15 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
you may consult with your lawyer
2006-11-23 02:51:03 · answer #1 · answered by Rim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take pictures and keep receipts for everything spent on the fix up and clean up. Notify insurance. You can also notify police and fill out a report so you have a paper trail.
Tenants do this all over... YOU ARE NOT ALONE... yes some of these dipshits take the light bulbs, even fixtures. They take off and leave you with the mess. If you have their social security numbers then turn them into collections if your lease stated that they are not leave the place in a shambles and if they stiffed you any rent.
The fact that you have great renters before is a blessing that not many of us landlords get to experience. It is truly amazing the lifestyle morons like this live !! They obviously don't realize if they put their energy towards doing what is right, their lives would turn around. I guess some people just can't be taught and the shitty lives they live they absolutely deserve !!
Best of luck to you and be ready for more of this type of treatment !! Its very common !!
: )
2006-11-23 07:08:59 · answer #2 · answered by Kitty 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First take pictures of everything that was damaged no matter how big or small , then get the replacement prices including labor. Don't forget the prices for removing the things left behind. Then go to your Magistrate Court House tell them you want to file a complaint against these people for the damages, if you have an address great if not tell them where they may find them. You will get a court date for the charges they will have to be there there will be a judgment filed against them and they will owe the money for the damages. Include the court cost as well. The last person I went to court for cost them 3,890.00 for repairs they have been sending payments every month . Good luck
2006-11-23 04:18:19 · answer #3 · answered by sherry k 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To get any money out of them you will need to go to civil court. With the theft and vandalizm You may be able to get them for that and a judge would order restitution as a part of the sentence. By the damage you described these people should have looked shifty when you rented to them.
One thing you have learned an expensive lesson. Always get first month, last month and a hefty damage deposit.
2006-11-23 03:01:59 · answer #4 · answered by Thomas S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What was in your lease contract? Did they put down a deposit? The deposit you can keep but still it depends on what was in the lease contract and what state you live in. You can take pictures of the damage and check with your lawyer. You might also want your lawyer to write up the lease contract for you.
Most landlords ends up with out of pocket when it comes to damages. Sorry. Always get good referrals from three or four different landlords of people wanting to rent. I don't believe there is a 100 percent protection from bad renters.
2006-11-23 03:02:35 · answer #5 · answered by 100yroldtree 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to take pics of everything for documentation, and contact a lawyer, save all of your reciepts for repairing any damage they did, all of this will play into getting reimbursement, and for the time you are fixing it, and its unrentable, you can most likely recoup that. I do believe you are going to have to take them to court.
2006-11-23 02:51:35 · answer #6 · answered by Jennifer L 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋