I was just complimented. A soon to be ex-tenant just told me I was the best ever. This was on Dec 1st when rents are due. This was just after she let me know 5 months into a 1 year Lease that she will be out of the apartment on 12/5(no 30 day notice, no rent payment). She is getting married and moving to Florida. And, by the way, she broke a window while cleaning the apartment up for me and she has a big carpet stain she could not remove. I have not replied yet as I cannot say what I really want to say, and I want her to think it's a good idea to leave her forwarding address.

You need reliable forwarding contact info....so you are right....you cant say what why want to at this point.

Do you have a social security number, date of birth and drivers license # to track her.

I would also get her intent to move out (break her lease) in writing.

If you are confident that you will be able to locate her to serve court documents, I would inform her of her numerous violations and responsibilities now and in writing. If not.....I would gather as much info as I could now and let her go.

Lana,

Great real life stuff!

Nothing to talk about. It's all in the lease. 60 day notice and Early Release Fee. $50 to replace glass, $60/room to steam clean carpet, $20 stain treatment. All pre-agreed.

(thanks for the reminder why I don't use carpet anymore!)

BRAD

Lana,

The REAL danger here? She is is luuuvvv and not thinking.

She left the unit yesterday and it is filthy, trashed, and full of trash. So, I will try to see if moving to Florida is a lie, but doubt any judgment is worth going after in another state. Bet she left a big water bill as well.

Brad, I am switching over to Allure, but cleaning carpets until they get too bad. I have not replaced carpet in this unit for over 10 years. It had really clean tenants in it for 7 years.

Lana,

The judgment is in Indiana. It does not matter where she lives she has to report back to Indiana.

To protect myself we get 4 Emergency Contacts per adult with signed authorization to deliver items or notices to these trusted persons. No matter where she disappears to I can serve her Granny!

Since you're the best LL ever maybe she'll text back her new address.

The person who called me her best landlord ever is the same one that eventually called me her worst.

Lana,

FYI Indiana Appellate Court (oversees small claims) has recently issued instructions to Small Claims courts to enforce the written Deposit Settlement rule (45 days).

The first thing I'd do is call her or text her and try to work out a settlement with a payment plan. I have them sign a Promissory Note which I can later use to sue for that amount if they do not pay.

I distributed this form at the last few National Conventions.

The goal of SERVICE is to inform the Defendant of the court date. Judges differ on what form or type of service they will allow and what proof of service they require.

Basically if I can get them to respond it proves they know about the hearing. I LOVE it when they call the court office to complain. PROOF!

Me? We serve them every which way but loose! Not unusual to send out 6 summons -

-her new address by certified mail

-the rental address

-her old work address

-new work address

-taped to her car window in the parking lot at her work

-gave it the the guard at the gate at work, who handed it to her on the way out.

-her text phone (text a photo of the summons)

-Facebook private messenger

-her son

-her Granny

-UBER driver deliver hard copy to her new door

Out of this list SOMEONE will call her and say "Hey I got a letter that was meant for you."

Be careful to not discuss any financial info with a third party - illegal.

BRAD