Is it legal for an apartment complex to garnish your wages if you owe them money?

Question

Is it legal for an apartment complex to garnish your wages if you owe them money?

Answer 1

They can do it with the approval of the court.  It will also affect your credit.

Answer 2

If they get a judgment, yes.  But it takes a court order.

Almond...I scanned that link and did not see anywhere that it said that they can't.  Also, I know a couple who HAVE had wages garnished by an apartment complex, so...IT CAN HAPPEN WITH A COURT ORDER!

Answer 3

Of course it is.  If you owe them money they can garnish your wages, levy your bank accounts, seize your IRS returns & place liens on any property (car/home) you own.

Answer 4

Yes they can.

Here is how it works in Arizona.

I get a judgment for what you owe me.

Lets say you do not pay your rent.

I serve you a 5 day pay or quit.

No pay from you.

Court date/judgment.

You still hold my apartment after 5 days.

I then file for a writ. You get removed and locked out.

To make this easier we will say you caused no damages.

I send you a letter at your last known address outlining what you owe me.

After 10 days I turn you over to collections.

My judgment can be enforced to collect on it's merits.

Now lets say you break your lease: My lease has a break lease fee in it and you will owe rent till I re rent it..

We will also say you caused damages by punching holes in the walls, ruining carpet,etc.

I take pictures of damages and send you a letter to last known address outlining what you owe me. After 10 days I send it to collections.

They can go for a judgment and collect by any means under the law.

I take pictures of all my apartments before and after people move-in and out. I do a walk through with you on moving in and we both sign. So damages are pretty easy to prove.

This is just a couple of examples to reply to your question.

A lease is a legal contract which can be enforced.

Answer 5

In many states, a civil judgement may be collected by a wage/tax/bank account garnishment.

YEs

Answer 6

Yes.

Answer 7

Yes. Lawmakers realized long ago that businesses needed a legal means of collecting debts from deadbeats.

Answer 8

Yes, they can do it if you signed a contract that states they can if you default on payments, or they can go to court and the court can order it.

Answer 9

Garnishment requires a court order.  If they sued and got a judgment, and the court authorized the garnishment, then yes.  

Answer 10

No, an apartment complex cannot garnish your wages