Tenant skipped town owing 3 months rent.

[Anna Davis]

H, does anyone know of resources that could help a landlord when the tenant skips town without paying months of rent? My friend  owns her property out right and it seems all known resources are for owners with an active mortgage. Also many rental assistance programs seem to require the tenant to complete the forms and ,my friend can not contact the tenant. The landlord, my friend is elderly  and on a fixed income struggling with the property tax payments and utility costs of the unit now . Any resources at all would be a highly appreciated. 

[Scott M.]

Collecting money from a deadbeat who skips town has a very low success rate.  Not saying you/she shouldn't pursue it but keep your eye on the prize and get the home cash flowing again.  That is where the majority of your energy should be directed.

You are never going to get a state program to fund tenant relief w/o a tenant so stop looking in that direction.  

You can sue the tenant but serving them will be the difficult part.  Once you get in front of a judge you will likely win a judgement and then you can try and collect.  Best you hand it over to a collection agency and be happy if they ever send you anything.  

Just understand the likely hood of collecting is generally low.  Not saying you can't or shouldn't do it, but that may help you focus your energy short term on getting the home cash flowing again.