How can I go after a tenant who, back in August, told me she was moving out because her apartment was infested with roaches? Not only did she not pay her rent for August, but she said I can keep her 1.5 month security deposit and she'd be out by 9/15.

I'm sure you can guess how this story ends. As of today, she has yet to return the keys to me and I only filed for her eviction on 9/16 when she failed to move out the day before and continues to play games with me. Also here in Essex county, NJ, evictions can take about 2 months from start to finish.

Lesson miserably learned here and I vow to never make this mistake again.

Now that she has moved to another apartment how do I go about suing her despite not having her new address? I know she gets a check every month for disability. Anyway I can garnish that somehow?

Although I've not used them, I understand there are services that trace people who've skipped out on you. I believe it's called a skip trace service. I'm not sure if you can garnish the disability though. Someone will come along to answer that.

Guy,

Been there, been burned. Never again.

Get some local advice about YOUR court and deposit requirements. You cannot simply "keep" her deposit without following certain steps.

My far off advice:

-make CERTAIN you follow the state law for written deposit settlement. This is simple paperwork sent on time. We send it to their rental address. Forwarding is up to them. Do this with proof of mailing so it will stand up in court.

-start with her application and poke around EVERYWHERE for info, including Google and Facebook. Get mad and get creative.

-ask her friends and neighbors

-ask her Momma

-verify employment; deliver court summons there

-ask at your local LL assoc.

My new policy: we file the DAY it's allowed. In MY state it's the day the rent is late. You could have come out even.

MY stats: 50% pay up, 25% pay enough to allow them to stay, 25% go thru court eviction.

To combat this, I now require 4 Emergency Contacts for each adult with the res' signature that we may deliver notices to these people on the res' behalf. We now verify every contact for accuracy.

This may seem like a lot of work but right now, how much would that info be worth to you?!

Have not lost anyone since we started doing this!

Guy,

The next (unfortunately) painful lesson you're about to learn is that you cannot squeeze blood from a turnip. Even if you could find her, server her, sue her, and get your judgment...she's on disability, which cannot be garnished. She is what we call "judgment proof."

Unless you believe she has significant assets such as a bank account or real estate--doubtful--just clean up, send the deposit statement, and move on.

Here in NJ you will just have to go through the system. It's complicated because you took a payment through the security deposit so technically she paid for August. The judge will figure it out but I would just request the keys since the apartment was abandoned and not go for blood since she is on disability and cut your losses that way