Tenants fled without paying several mos rent and left junk in the house and a truck in the garage. Help?

Question

We discovered that our tenants fled this weekend... we recently had them sign a promissory note saying that they had to pay over 10,000 in fees. We plan on taking them to court, but right now we have absolutely no idea where they are or how to contact them. They left a junkie couch, washer and dryer, and a non-working truck in the garage. I'm not the one renting out the property, but I'd like to get as much info as I can to help my family out. Does anyone know what steps we can take go get through this problem, as well as get the truck and junk off of the property legally?

Answer 1

http://www.illinoislegalaid.org/index.cf...

if the link does not work fo you - retype it. i have a bad (very bad) news for you. the landlord have no rights in this country.

tenats can play you for months. you will be punished for anything you will try to do. you can only put up and shut up. i thing it is time to change the law in this country. tenats know their rights and they do not give f..k about you. they are in the driver seat. you are nobody. now i do understand why we have so many forclosers. you could pay for next 6 months before you get rid of them. judge is on their side.

a lot of good luck and join the crying owners.

Answer 2

You should have evict them the first month they didn;t pay rent.  There is nothing you can do about bad tenants except next time take a huge desposit from them and clearly state in lease what needed to be done.

Answer 3

Did they have a lease?

What is your state law on abandonment of property?  10 days after leaving without apparent intent to return in many states. . . .

Good to have the promisssory note.  If you ever find them and they have anything, you may be able to get a judgement against them, garnishee wages, etc.  Go to collection agency with this promissory note--only give them copy, and set them after tenants.  Try mailing first class, forwarding/return receipt requested, to get new address if they filed with post office.

NEVER, never let your tenants get this deep.  You need to start eviction long before they are this deep in the hole.

Answer 4

If you can find them you can file a lawsuit, but unless you have an address where they are you can not serve them.  The note where they pay $10,000 in fees will never hold up even if you do find them the judge can only order $4-$6 thousand max depending on the state