State Specific Question About: NEW JERSEY (NJ)

Screen x3. (effort)

Have a Written Procedure and Check'em off as you go.

A very important lessons for landlords to know: everybody is really nice when they want something from you. The more expensive the item, the nicer they will be.

Jack,

Don't beat yourself up but DO take action.

Because we've been cheated exactly the same way and to be certain it will never happen again, we never accept personal checks. Not even after they move in.

We also only rent to folks who have a decent job and are GARNISHABLE.

Start back with her application. Find where she works. Her emergency contacts. Ask the neighbors to your rental.

My lease is clear: we require 4 emergency contacts per adult with signed authorization to serve them notices. Basically I serve their Granny!

Facebook has been an AMAZING resource to find "lost" residents who owe us money!

BRAD

For monies owed for a new tenancy, either in the form or a Money Order, Cashier's Check, Bit-Coin, PayPal or any other type of payment can always be cancelled or stopped by the purchaser. So my lease and receipt spell out that the new Tenants(s) will NOT get keys to the property until the funds are in the landlords hands.

I have my new tenant purchase their Cashier's Check/Money Order from a local Bank. I go to that bank and CASH the CHECK -- not against my funds but on the merit of that check alone. I have the managers stipulate that no "holds" are being placed on any of my accounts (checking, savings or credit cards). The manager has to call the bank's clearing house and confirm the check is still good and they can hand over the funds.....

Then I place a key in the lockbox at the property and call my new tenant they can move in as planed.

First thing: I know you are feeling rotten, cheated, and angry. I think most of us have been there. The desire is for REVENGE and to "teach her a lesson." I humbly suggest based on past experience....revenge will harm no one but the person seeking it, and you will never "teach her a lesson." People who do this are borderline amoral, meaning they have no sense of morality. They will lie, steal, cheat, hoodwink, take advantage of ANYONE and EVERYONE they meet so long as it benefits them. There is no way to teach the unteachable.

Your only goal at this point: recover money.

Don't worry about warning other LLs. If they are smart, they'll figure her out without your help. The old eviction should be showing up on public records now, and your new eviction will be soon too. One recent or two back-to-back evictions is enough warning for wise land lords who do thorough screening. Unwise land lords won't check, so nothing you do will help them. They get what they deserve for acting foolishly. I get what I deserve when I act foolishly.

In some states (like Missouri) passing a bad check over $500 is felony offense under certain conditions. Google your states "bad check" laws and see what you find that MIGHT wake her up.

As Brad says, Facebook is your friend. Try to find her using her telephone number, or try name and town. Common names are hard to find.

If all else fails, report her debt. Jeffrey has a service on this site (click green "Services" tab above) that costs very little and reports to all 3 credit bureaus and rolls over to collection within a certain period of time. You do NOT have to have a money judgment to use this service.

Now you've been "schooled" in the ways of tenant shenanigans at move-in. During screening, always talk to current and PAST land lord. Verify they are legit by asking leading questions: "How much was her rent? What was the address she rented from you? How long was she your tenant?" Fakers won't think of all the details in advance. Cross check ownership of the "rental" with online tax records. If the tenants don't have BOTH current and past LL, you need a rock solid cosigner (great, steady income, owns local real estate, blemish free credit report) or it's a NO-GO. Why? Current LLs lie to get rid of bad residents. I only consider negative references from current LL.

In order to prevent this from happening in the future, require cash to get moved in initially.

Also at the initial screening meeting, have them bring a copy of there current lease. It would take a great deal of gull to be in process of getting booted out and present a copy of the lease.