Security deposit return-no forwarding address
Hi guys,
So I evicted couple of tenants for nonpayment and I have a question about returning security deposits.
I bought this fourplex from a seller and he did not provide any move in inspections reports.
Therefore, will be hard to prove if a damage was done by the tenant or not.
My attorney says that I have to write those tenants letter explaining them what will be deducted from the security deposits. Those tenants did damage to the property (probably about 2-3K per unit) but I would not be able to prove it in court.
I dont want to return security deposit (because I have to spend much more on fixing up plus I spent a lot on legal fees to evict them).
Plus one tenant was a tenant from hell, threatening to hurt another tenant, and then threatening to take me to court for not evicting this other tenant, calling me at 6 am when he gets off work, in other words, I am not looking forward to communication with this tenant.
However, I do not want him to take me to court for not mentioning security deposit either...
So is there a way around it? Can I somehow try to contact him without making him want to contact me back?
For instance, if I say: "Joe, I need to discuss with you return of your deposit" Then of course he will contact me and will start the fight over security deposit, which I probably will lose because I cant prove that the damage was done by him.
What if I write a letter and say: "Joe, please contact me within a certain period of time to discuss court hearing and the issues that were brought up by the judge "
Probably JOe is not gonna try to contact me because judge awarded me the unpaid rent...
And , in this case, if Joe will try to go back after me for security deposit, then I can say: "I contacted you to discuss it and you never reciprocated"
What do you guys think?
Do you have any other ideas?
Or if I just lay low and do not contact him at all, after 30 days if he does not contact me then I dont have to return him the deposit at all, is that what Pennsylvania law says? He has not left me any forwarding address by the way.