Reply to Re: Tenants moved out with unpaid rent

Re: Tenants moved out with unpaid rent (Score: 1) by Katiekate on Saturday, March 17, 2012 @17:41

I thought that Massachusetts had raised the amount in small claims to $2500. Probably still too low?

If you want more than that..you have to go and litigate it in Civil Court. The legal burden in greater in that court. That court is more concerned about the letter of the law .. small claims is more about justice. I did this once, it took 18 months to get into court. I am betting the tenant gets free legal advice while you are going to pay for yours. Might not be worth the extra. If it were me, I wouldn't go to civil court again for less than $8,000.

I recommend that you get an attorney for Civil Court...or at the very least have a lawyer that can write things up for you and give you the guidance you are going to need.

As a final thought...you need to be careful with tenants to never allow the amount they owe you to be more than the last month rent + security deposit. That means you have to post the "pay or quit" as soon as the rent is late..and file after 14 days to get a judgment for evict as fast as possible.

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