Landlord-tenant legal question
Question: Hi I’m a first time landlord and own a property in Austin, TX (3/2 single family) Everything was fine for the past 13 months until my tenant disappeared 2 weeks ago. The month is until Feb 97 and I’m estimating my loss to be around $1500.
I was able to keep the security deposit which is only about $600. I need some advice of dealing with this problem:
-Is it worth going after the tenant for collection of my loss. (I got their ss# but no address or contacts. -How much are they liable for -How to file a judgement lien?
Any input or comment will be greatly appreciated.
Answer: Not a bad idea. They will also file the suit, if you ask them, for collection.
If you can’t collect, you want the judgment. Here’s why:
1. The judgment will stay on the miscreant’s credit report for ten years. Someday they might want to buy a car or a washing machine on credit. As soon as the credit company sees the unsatisfied judgment, they will decline credit until you are paid. If the ex-tenant won’t pay you, they can’t buy the car or the washing machine.
Kinda makes you feel good to think about it, doesn’t it?
2. They will have to rent from someone else. If that landlord pulls a credit report, he will see the judgment from another landlord and won’t rent to them. Eventually, if all landlords pulled credit reports before they rented, it would mean that bad tenants would have no place to live except under freeway overpasses.
Kinda makes you feel good, too, doesn’t it?
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Filed under: Bad Credit
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