State Specific Question About: TEXAS (TX)

Jean I am unclear what you mean..

Would you not write it in the records and have all the documents?

As a former government civil service,we had a way to record any info needing to be recorded. It is called a Memo For Record. I used this MFR many times in my rental business. Any time I had a phone conversation with tenant typed one up. Any time the rent was late I stated when it was late, what type of notice I sent, what they replied, how it escalated,etc.

In your example, I would state:

-property address and tenant name

-begin/end date of the lease

-amount of the security deposit

-when the tenant left, under what circumstances,

-what the estimate cost of damage is

-how much I deducted from it

-what is still owing me

-what address I sent the notice to, and why (no forwarding address?)

In 'bullet form' just like above

Memo For Record: 123 Main St, tenant Susan Smith

-lease dates 1 Aug 2016-31 July 2017

-Rent $1000/mo, Deposit $900

-property not vacated till 10 Aug 17,

-furniture and trash left behind

-damages (water) to bathroom floor and tub surround,jagged wall holes from nails&screws, broken rear porch steps from forcing refrigerator down the steps (refrig now sitting in back yard) see previous memos

-repair back stairs est $300,repair bathroom floor and wall est $650, repair nail holes $25, convey furniture to charity $50, cleaning fee $350. Total needed to bring property to re-rent status = $1375,less $900 SecDep, $475 still owing

-No known forwarding address, deposit letter to tenant sent 16 Aug 17 to property with note for postmaster to forward.

Then file it. If the tenant takes you to court over anything, you have a series of memos recording the whole tenancy. The judge can see how things went down hill, how many times you gave out a notice, if/when it was complied with,est. Best of luck.

PS: don't use your full name on this public site.Anyone can find you, your family, your properties.

I was trying to add to their rental history.. I was told that when they go to apply for another property it would show up so the next landlord would see that they skipped and how much was due.

Jean,

If you file a lawsuit for eviction and your money it will be public record for all to see.

But follow your state’s deadline to provide a written accounting of what they owe and how you applied their deposit. Without proof of mailing within the deadline the judge can throw out your claim.

We file in court on EVERY dollar owed, even if collection seems slim. It warns other LLs who take the time to check and MANY pay, sometimes years later when they come into money.