What former tenants owe
Rent through the end of the lease, subject to your state's rules on re-renting the unit. Rent that was simply never paid before the eviction. Damage beyond normal wear that the deposit did not cover. Unpaid utilities, late fees, and cleaning charges spelled out in the lease. Commercial tenants who abandoned the space, often with a personal guarantee attached.
How landlords get stiffed
- The skip. The tenant leaves mid-lease, overnight, with no notice and no forwarding address.
- The deposit as last month's rent. The tenant stops paying, tells you to keep the deposit, and leaves damage that costs three times that.
- The disputed deposit itemization. Your state sets a deadline and a format for accounting for the deposit; miss it and the tenant's counterclaim can swallow your claim.
- The eviction that only got you the keys. A judgment for possession is not a money judgment. The rent is still owed and still unpaid.
- The co-signer who was never really on the hook. A guarantor form that was not signed properly, or a roommate situation where nobody is sure who owes what.
- The commercial tenant that dissolves. The LLC that signed the lease is closed; the business is operating down the street under a new name.
What to do before you place the account
Gather the signed lease and any guaranty, the ledger showing every charge and payment, the move-in and move-out inspection reports with photos, the deposit itemization you sent and proof of when you sent it, repair invoices, and any judgment. Note the tenant's last known phone, email, employer, and the vehicle they drove; skip tracing starts from whatever you have. Send a final written demand to the last known address. Then place it.
How we collect for landlords and property managers
A former residential tenant is a consumer account, collected by collectors trained on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Our skip tracers locate the tenant's current contact information plus any assets, bank accounts, and property they control, which is what turns a balance into a recovery. Debtors understand that a third party means the debt is being pursued seriously, that it can affect their credit, and that legal action is on the table.
If you already hold a money judgment, it is only paper until it is collected. We run asset searches, verify employment, and locate accounts so the judgment is enforced through wage garnishment, bank levy, or asset sale where the law allows. If you do not have a judgment and the balance justifies one, the account goes to an attorney in the tenant's area and you decide whether to sue. Commercial tenants and their guarantors are worked as commercial accounts.
Common follow-up questions
The tenant left no forwarding address. Can you still collect?
Yes. That is what skip tracing is for. We locate tenants who moved, changed numbers, or went quiet, then start contact.
I won an eviction. Why is the rent still unpaid?
An eviction judgment for possession gives you the unit back. Collecting the money takes a money judgment and then enforcement: finding the tenant's employer or accounts and taking the legal steps for a garnishment or levy. We handle both the locating and the enforcement through our attorney network.
Can you collect from the co-signer or guarantor?
If the guaranty was properly signed, the guarantor is usually liable for what the tenant owes. Send the signed form with the account and we pursue both.
Talk to us
Tell us about the accounts and we put together a free assessment, usually within one business day. Request a free consultation, contact us, or call 321-710-3530. Ready now? Place a claim and we go to work today. No recovery, no fee.