My tenant moved out. I only had him pay first and last months rent, and no security deposit. Can i bill him?

Question

the tenant had two dogs living in the home, and the brand new carpet was damaged, as well as a whole 'bedroom' was used as the dogs 'bathroom'. Even though no money was left as a security deposit, can i still bill him for repairs?

Answer 1

You can bill him, but lots of luck collecting!

Answer 2

I think you can bill him. Most leases include damage provisions to protect the landlord. Most of them allow landlords to bill even if there is a security deposit (meaning the security deposit is not a cap on the amount of damage a tenant is obligated to pay for). Check your landlord/tenant laws for your state (most of them are available free on the Web; if not, head to the library.)
Next time you rent the place out, consider instituting a "no pets" policy or, as a former landlord of ours did, make the rent slightly higher each month for pet owners.
Good luck to you...my husband and I have been renters for the past 3 years and have improved the property, done landscaping, etc. Not all tenants are bad...I wish you luck in finding better ones next time!!

Answer 3

my experience in Missouri is that the ball is always in the renters court...they move in and can stop paying when they want.....you evict them and they won't get out...then you have to spend $1000 for an attorney to take it to court. You have to keep up with the renter for years to get your garnishment. But mostly they get off scott free..and they can stay in the house about 6 months and there's nothing a landlord can do.
THE LAWS HAVE TO BE CHANGED.
If we evict them through the sheriff , then the law should be able to put them out in no more than 10 days.
But Missouri's eviction process is this way....
#1 they don't pay, but promise they will catch up next week, then the next, and so on.
#2 you have to send them a registered letter giving them 30 days to get out
#3 they ignore the letter so then you can go to the sherrif. You purchase a $40 eviction and they serve it giving the renter another 30 days
#4 you contact a lawyer, pay him $1000 to take it before a judge to force them out
#5 the judge gives them another 30 days and puts a judgment on them for what they owe plus court costs and attorneys fees.
#6 they move after 2 months or 3 knowing you won't go spend any more money on them

So far they have lived in your house 6 or more months for free. And you don't know where they have moved and never get a penny back.

HOW FAIR IS THAT?

Answer 4

I completely agree with Janet. We are wonderful tenants. We take care of these homes as if they were our own but unfortunaly, we bought a home of our own 3 yrs ago and when my husband became ill, we got foreclosed on. But anyway, to answer your question, small claims will be your only option at this point but it is not a guarantee!!

Answer 5

In CA you can't bill him, although you could have for the rent.

Small claims is your only real option, and hopefully your lease said no dogs.

I am sorry to hear about your property. Good tenants are harder to get, they all bought a few years back. (now they are loosing their homes and have credit too bad to rent)

Answer 6

Go to small claims court and make sure you have pictues and other inforamtion on the damage if you have a good case you may win if you don't have a strong case don't waste your time, you can also sue for court cost.

Answer 7

Why would you let someone move into your place with no security. Your gonna just have to brave the lost because you cannot collect a dime. Next time learn.

Answer 8

It depends on what the lease said, but in any case, good luck trying to get it.

Answer 9

u cant bill him but u can take him to small claims court .