Re: URGENT arrogant tenants breaking the lease

Re: URGENT arrogant tenants breaking the lease by Va Landlady (VA) on October 31, 2009 @11:08

Did they actually move out? And did they give you the keys back, giving you possession? Before you do any suing, you have to mitigate damages. That means clean up, fix up, and re-rent as soon as you can. Meanwhile, you also have to send them an accounting of their security deposit within a certain amount of time (check your state's laws). If you apply the security deposit to the unpaid rent, fine, but you have to account for it. Do you know where they are? If not, send everything certified to your property, the last known address.

Once you have the place rented again, THEN you can take them to small claims for your damages. Most judges won't give you more than 2 month's of rent damages, but you can also ask for your costs for repairs (save the receipts, you cannot charge for your own labor), and your costs for re-renting (advertising, etc).

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Re: URGENT arrogant tenants breaking the lease by Va Landlady (VA) on October 31, 2009 @11:09	[ Reply ]
EDIT: actually in MY state you cannot charge for your own labor. Check your state's laws for this.