Tenant Leaving Before Lease Expires, NEED HELP!
I have a tenant that informed me last month that she did not like the apartment and she wanted to move. I informed her that she would be responsible for the rent until we found a new tenant or until her lease expired. She and I have been working to find a new tenant the last month with no luck thus far.
She informed me this week that she has bought a house and that she is going to start moving this weekend.
I want to prepare myself for the possibility that she will not fulfill her lease agreement and will not continue paying the rent after she moves. What should I do in preparation for this?
What are my options? Help!
Most Popular Reply
Get a judgment - sounds like you won't have that until after her closing date on the new house - and then slap a lien on that new house. When she tries to refi or sell, you have a chance to get paid. Often, the judgment isn't worth the paper it's printed on, let alone the expense of getting it; but when they become owners of real estate, you have a property where you can attach a lien.
To get the judgment, you will need to follow all proper procedures for the location of the property. Info Jon gave you will be needed - keep track of all your costs in accommodating this wayward tenant.