'[I] emailed them their arrest warrants': Landlord sues terrible tenants who destroyed their home

We talk a lot on here about terrible, predatory landlords, and that's only a small part of the constantly ongoing discourse on the topic around the wider internet. And, to be fair, they're an easy group to hate... There's a lot to be said about a group of wealthy investors who bank land and real estate, which pushes up prices for everyone else, who are then forced to rent and service the mortgages of the very same places they were priced out of in the first place, all the while contending with that same wealthy investor who treats the tenant with cynicism and regards the fact that they're living in their "investment" to be an inconvenience—even though the fact that they're paying to do so was the entire point to begin with. 

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Author image for Brad Dickson Brad Dickson
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  • Yeah, like I said, easy to hate—but it's important to remember that, as with any group, while the notable terrible outliers might stick in your mouth and leave a bad taste, the exception is not the rule. There are plenty of normal people renting out their family home or second home for plenty of normal reasons and who don't at all relish the opportunity to wield power over their tenants' lives. Sure, they might cover a light switch or fixture with white paint from time to time, but otherwise, they're just normal, hardworking people.

    Similarly, while the internet is usually largely sympathetic to the plight of tortured tenants, the same rule applies. There are loads of bad tenants out there who have no care for the places they're renting, and then there are the uniquely terrible tenants who do their best to practically demolish the places they're living in, leaving their landlords with no avenues of recourse. The problem is these bad eggs are a big part of the reason why landlords hedge their bets and are so cynical in the first place. They've heard these types of stories and live in constant fear of this happening to their own homes.

    Yeah, these are the types of tenants that this landlord was dealing with when they found themself left with a trashed house and needing to break even—and get even.

  • 01
    Posted by u/anonspace 24 7 hours ago Trash my condo after years of kindness, pay the price I have dreamt of this day when I can post this. So here it is. I leased my rental condo to a single mother with three kids in 2016. It was a 3 bed, 2 bath. I had a grace period of 3 days for rent in there, but they were always late. I would not charge them late fees, thinking she is a
    via u/anonspace24
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  • 02
    single mother, and would follow up consistently to get my rent. Most of the time, I would receive it 2-3 weeks late and sometimes 2 months late. In my mind, as long as they are paying and I can help by giving them some time, all was good. Suddenly I find that in 2020, her husband lives there too. He travels for work but lives there, and the money that she has been sending me through Zelle has always been
    via u/anonspace24
  • 03
    coming out of his account since day 1. I let it go and still be civil, and he starts communicating with me at every delay. Sometimes he would go silent for 4-5 weeks, and I wouldn't be able to reach any of them. I would threaten eviction, and they would come back and pay me. In hindsight, I should have evicted them, but Covid happened, and I didn't want to throw them out.
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  • 04
    Finally, at the end of 2022, they inform me that by March 2023, they would be out. They just bought a house, and they were very appreciative of me being kind and helping them along the way. They were supposed to leave by March 6th, 2023, and I told them that if they clean the house and leave it in good condition, they don't have to worry about rent for March.
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  • 05
    March 6th comes, and they tell me they are still moving and cleaning. I let it go as I had no potential renter yet, and I was just glad that they were cleaning it up. I still didn't have the key to the condo. I would communicate with them during the month of March, saying potential renters want to see the place, and they would tell me to send them over. Potential renters
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  • 06
    would go there and knock, but no one would open the door, and I would try to reach out, and they would not respond to me. This happened twice, and they would call me later that the potential renters never showed up and lied to me. I was getting antsy, and on March 20th, I called and texted both the husband and wife for a few days straight, asking them to give me the keys. Nothing. No response.
    via u/anonspace24
  • 07
    On March 24th, my friend and I decided to head over there to see what is going on. We live an hour away. I call both of them, and no response. I decide to look them up on the county land records. I knew the county they were building a house in and was able to find their new address. My friend and I decide to go to their house and get the key. We reach there and knock on the door. The son opens and yells for his mom. His mom
    via u/anonspace24
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  • 08
    comes down and pretends to cry, saying we lost the key. In my mind, then why the heck couldn't they tell me and why the heck would you ignore my countless texts and phone calls. At this point, I am still being civil, and I said that's fine. I will get the locksmith and charge them the fees.
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  • 09
    We go to the condo next, and to our surprise, the condo was open. They never bothered to lock it. As soon as my friend and I entered, these three words came out of our mouths: "Oh, my gosh." There was this horrible smell; all the walls had patches over them from a bad paint job; the fridge had food rotting in there; carpets stunk like they have never been cleaned. In one room
    via u/anonspace24
  • 10
    on the carpet, there was a big paint stain, and the door was also busted. It was the worst feeling because I was so nice to them, and they left my condo unlocked for days, destroyed my place, didn't even have the decency to clean my place, or pick up my phone. I was furious that my kindness over the years was repaid by this.
    via u/anonspace24
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  • 11
    Finally, not knowing the extent of the damage, I reached out to them, saying I will keep the $1000 deposit and am asking them to pay $1800 more for the cleanup job. They decline on text. I tell them I will sue them. They ended up getting aggressive and told me they know the law too and am not getting a single penny out of them.
    via u/anonspace24
  • 12
    Then I work with a lawyer in the first week (still not knowing the full extent of the damage) but just some. I send a demand letter for $3000. Nothing. Then I worked with a contractor, and just for the painting, it cost me around $7000, as there were around 1000 patches that they had to sand off. I am not even exaggerating. I got multiple quotes.
    via u/anonspace24
  • 13
    The cleaning crew went in the morning at 4:00 am and ended at 3:00 pm. Everything that you can think of that was dirty was dirty. The oven, fridge had not been cleaned for years; there was heavy clogging in both bathrooms' drains; the toilet was worse than a public toilet. They charged me $600 to clean the house.
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  • 14
    It ended up costing me $7600. I continue with the lawyer and end up filing a claim for $11000 though people told me that I am wasting money and they will never pay. For me I couldn't let them get away with It. I ended up charging them for late fees for not paying the month of March that I had agreed to waive off if they cleaned the house. I had in my contract $50 per day for any delay. By the time I had filed, it was
    via u/anonspace24
  • 15
    easily a few thousand dollars. I asked a few Redditors from my throwaway account and they told me about late fee regulations, but my lawyer told me that they did sign a contract, and in this state, we can sue them for $50 per day until the day we file. Then the saga begins. It was my responsibility to serve them and let them know the mediation, then it was my
    via u/anonspace24
  • 16
    responsibility to serve them for the court date. They actively avoided being served twice, and it cost me $400 just to serve them twice. They still didn't show up for mediation or the court date, and judgment was filed in my favor as they didn't show up. Finally, an arrest warrant was out for both of them. I was asked to serve them again. I begged the clerk, saying I cannot spend more money to serve them. She got a document signed by the judge for an alternative method of serving that included t
    via u/anonspace24
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  • 17
    I texted and emailed them their arrest warrants and the next court date. They finally showed up, and the judge made them give me all their information. They were in court, but I could appear on Zoom. I was able to ask them all their information, including social security number, driver's license number, bank account statements, salary, and work address. I have to say I felt a bit sorry as it seems they were still struggling and didn't have enough money to pay the rent based on their statements.
    via u/anonspace24
  • 18
    Finally, I told them I could start garnishing 25% of their monthly wages, or they could pay me immediately. They promised to pay me in chunks of $1500 every month. I still don't have all of it yet, but them sitting there and giving me all the information was the best revenge I could get. If they would have just agreed to pay me $1800 in the beginning or $3000 that I demanded, they wouldn't have been on the hook for $11000.
    via u/anonspace24
  • 19
    ConfusedAt63 2 hr. ago Good job! 93 Reply Share anonspace24 OP. 2 hr. ago Thank you. I felt bad for them sitting there giving me all their information but then I re-read their text to give me the energy I needed. They were not good people 89 Reply Share
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  • 20
    Excellent Ad1132.2 hr. ago Why do I have the feeling that you will never get the whole amount back, no matter what happens? Add into your next contract with a renter that you will need to be allowed entrance into the property at the minimum once a month, just to make sure they don't trash the place. Reply Share 38
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  • 21
    anonspace24 OP. 2 hr. ago I am going to garnish his wages if that happens. 25% of his pay check can be garnished. I just don't want to go through tue process because it's a timely process and then I have to spend money and time on it. 54 Reply Share triflin_fellow 1 hr. ago Start doing it anyway out of the blue without telling them to be extra petty 24 Reply Share ...
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  • 22
    anonspace24 OP. 1 hr. ago Legally I could. I will at least start preparing the documents to be safe 27 13 abletofable 1 hr. ago If they own their new place, could you place a lien on it as well? Reply Share 35 Reply Share anonspace24 OP. 1 hr. ago I did it as soon as I got judgement in my favor Reply Share
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  • 23
    Foolserrand376 1 hr. ago How often from 2016 to 2022 did you perform site visits to check on the condition of your property.... sounds like you turned keys over and didn't go back for 6 years to inspect your property.... it doesn't absolve them of trashing the place, but as a landlord it's your duty to inspect your property so you surprised by a ..... 17 Reply Share
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  • 24
    anonspace24 OP. 1 hr. ago I agree with you. I normally went at least once a year but didn't do it with detail. They had so many pictures on the wall that I couldn't see the wall, they had so much stuff that many times I could just see stuff and what's underneath. Someone was
    via u/anonspace24
  • 25
    always in the bathroom when I visited - ohhh I seee now why I couldn't see the bathroom. Even in the patio, there was stuff and I missed the big stain in the patio because of stuff. But you are right. Someone said a property management company would help too. 14 Reply Share
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  • 26
    FRED3R1CK. 35 min. ago This is the exact reason I require my renter to allow me into the house to change the air filters monthly. One, I make sure my AC is being cared for. Two, I get a chance to look around. 6 Reply Share
    via u/anonspace24
  • 27
    simplesimonsaysno 1 hr. ago I think if you had a property manager this never would have got to this situation. 4² ↓ Reply Share anonspace24 OP. 1 hr. ago I totally agree there. I am going to look into some Reply Share 1↓ ↑ 1
    via u/anonspace24
  • 28
    mnelaway 46 min. ago As a landlord myself, I nominate you for King 42 Reply Share anonspace24 OP. 34 min. ago Haha you are kind. 40 Reply Share
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  • 29
    exoh888 54 min. ago Weren't you doing half yearly inspections? 1 Reply Share anonspace24 OP. 31 min. ago I normally went at least once a year but didn't do it with detail. They had so many pictures on the wall that I couldn't see the wall, they had
    via u/anonspace24
  • 30
    so much stuff that many times I could just see stuff and what's underneath. Someone was always in the bathroom when I visited - ohhh I seee now why I couldn't see the bathroom. Even in the patio, there was stuff and I missed the big stain in the patio because of stuff. But you are right. Someone said a property management company would help too. 2 Reply Share
    via u/anonspace24
  • 31
    Lady013 51 min. ago This is amazing. Your goodwill was completely extinguished and you followed through at every step. 41 13 Reply Share
    via u/anonspace24
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  • 32
    princess_nyaaa. 9 min. ago People like them are why renters I, and why like me get landlords end up having to be 41↓ Reply Share
    via u/anonspace24

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