Tenant Debt Recovery
When a tenant damages or abandons an apartment, or fails to pay rent, her landlord is out some cash. Landlords can take advantage of several debt recovery options to make them whole.
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Security Deposit Deduction
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If a tenant paid a security deposit and has moved from the rental home, a landlord has the right to make reasonable deductions for any debts owed. In most states, the landlord is still required to send the tenant an itemized list of all deductions within a specific time period.
Court Judgment
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If a tenant owes a landlord money over any deposit, the landlord can sue the tenant in court. In some states, a landlord can get a money judgment at an eviction hearing. In other states, eviction and money judgment hearings are separate events.
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Collecting Court Judgments
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If a landlord is granted a court judgment, she is responsible for collecting it. Many landlords have access to information such as the tenant's Social Security number, place of employment and bank information from rent checks. This information can be used to garnish a tenant's wages and bank account.
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References
- Photo Credit gavel image by Cora Reed from Fotolia.com
