Actions of the Tenant

**lmnop** · 01-11-2008, 10:03 AM

We are owners of a home that we have rented out for 6 months of a 12 month lease. We live out of state and our neighbors have been keeping an eye on the property. We have been having some problems with our mortgage company and were and still are fearful of foreclosure. We had talked to our tenants about the issues and they decided they would look for alternate housing. On January 1st they told us that they would be moving the weekend of January 12th. They never paid rent for the month of January, but we were just going to let that be because of the situation. I tried to call them for a final move out date so we could arrange the walk -thru for the deposit refund. We never heard back. I e-mailed them 3x asking the same question and asking for a forwarding address. Today I got a call from our old neighbors telling us that they moved out last week and had turned in the keys but, they stole the refrigerator and the stove and left the house a mess. We knew that our financial issues were going to possibly affect them, but we had be honest with them from the beginning. What should we do? Treat it like we would anyone else and deduct the charges for missed rent and damages from their deposit and what about the stolen items?? Also, what do you do when they won't return your calls or e-mails and they have not provided any forwarding info? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

**carrot** · 01-11-2008, 12:31 PM

Wonder why the neighbor watching the house didn't call you when she saw them moving out. Are you sure they took the items who had access to the keys the neighbor also right.

I watch the people accross the street take the refrigerator when they left also but they got 2 weeks notice on a forclosure and no chance of getting there deposit and last months rent back. Maybe they thought they were protecting there deposit by doing this. I know it's wrong but so many tenants are loosing deposits on foreclosures.

At least you kept your tenants informed accross the street they woke up to a foreclosure sign on the lawn and when called found out they had to be out in 2 weeks right at xmas. The person who owned the house foreclosed on several properties and had paid in 8 months on there property collecting 1500 a month from them.

**thedeallocator** · 01-12-2008, 02:58 AM

Sad to here that they are foreclosing on your property. It's very refreshing to hear that you were very upfront with them. It is very difficult to know what happened to the items missing from the house. The tenant or the neighbor could have taken them. The tenant is expected to leave a forwarding address, if he/she is interested in getting back the security deposit. I would keep trying to contact them, and if you cannot, then you may have to talk to your lawyer.

**carrot** · 01-14-2008, 04:56 AM

Was there an alternate contact in case of an emergency on the lease. Did they have a cell phone you can still try to contact them at. Maybe send a letter to the address where they lived maybe they are having the mail forwarded somewhere.