HELP - What to do when tenant skips out on lease?

Question

Hello, I'm a brand new member and this is my first post on the forum.  I'd appreciate anyone's advice/guidance on what my options are regarding a tenant who has skipped out on the last few months of the lease.  I manage mostly college rentals in SC and this particular unit is a 1BR studio apt.  The total amount outstanding is right around $1,700.  Luckily, the amount of money is not so significant that we're too fired up about it but I mostly want help for the future if/when it is one of our larger, more expensive rentals.  Do I need to hire an attorney and get a judgment filed against the tenant? Send his information to a collections agency and/or credit reporting institution? Anything relevant info to get the ball rolling would be great.  Thanks!

Account Closed · Answer

there are companies that pursue these as their primary business. I would hire one of them, similar to a local collection agency but more focused on pursuing tenants. search the phone book or google for one of those in your area, they will likely be in the same collection agency sections. many of them, you dont pay anything upfront, just a portion of the recovered amount goes to them, pretty easy. I would go after this one if I were you, it will show you how easy it is and in the future you will just have a simple system for this situation.

Ken A. · Answer

Might be worth to try googling: "Judgement collection services"?

Michael Lee · Answer

Jon, thanks for your response.  I completely forgot to mention that we did evict the tenant earlier this week after going through the formal eviction process.  Does that change anything?  We've already taken the steps to clean it and re-rent it (getting some activity already as well).  And, I do think it's best to move on but this is more for my own education and experience.  I will follow through with some written communication to the tenant -- that sounds like a good idea.

Jon Holdman · Answer

First, make sure you don't have to go through an eviction.   A good topic for a discussion with a landlord/tenant attorney, something you must have if you want to be in this business.

Then clean it up and re-rent it.  Do your normal move out letter with the security deposit accounting.  If you don't have a new mailing address, send it to your unit.  If it comes back, file it away, unopened.  You might need this later if the tenant reappears and claims you improperly withheld security deposits.

Then move on.  Let a collection agency pursue it if you wish.

Michael Lee · Answer

Issac, thanks for your response.  That sounds like a good way to go and I will definitely look into it.  I'm all about having systems in place and making things easy.