need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant



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  1. #1

    need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant

    Hi. I hoped some of you could help advise me on a small dilemma im facing.

    At the end of last year, my basement tenant moved out and she owed me a little over $2000 in overdue rent. She kind of ran away and the only proof I have about this is a bunch of emails exchanged between me and her.

    School is finally done and I now have time to pursue this issue. The only information I have about her is her cell phone number. I have tried to discuss this with her but she keeps cutting my calls. I want to take her to court.

    My question is for you guys, if you have any knowledge or experience about this, is how do I go about with this process? How can I find her and sue her? Are emails enough proof?

    Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

  2. #2
    cknowles's Avatar
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    Re: need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant

    Good luck, the law is always in favor of the renter

  3. #3
    Kedo's Avatar
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    Re: need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant

    You can always sue them in small claims court. Of course you need to find them to serve notice

  4. #4

    Re: need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant

    Quote Originally Posted by Kedo View Post
    You can always sue them in small claims court. Of course you need to find them to serve notice
    I do intend to take it to small claims court. Im thinking of hiring a private investigator to locate her for me. I know she is in Missisauga or the surrounding area. But really....would emails count as sufficient proof to the judge to award me the case. In these emails from last year she acknowledges the amount she owed me.

  5. #5
    shahfaisal's Avatar
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    Emails in the form of direct contact are considered legal form of communication

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  6. #6
    shahfaisal's Avatar
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    Its much harder to prove who is behind that email, you would need to form a legal connection between you, the emails and the tenant. Who is to say both email account don't belong to you? If you have a lease agreement with the email address clearly marked as her email then you have a chance

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  7. #7
    kanabis's Avatar
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    Re: need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant

    If you have no proof of him/her paying you the rent (like a receipt that you gave him/her) then you my friend are screwed. They lawyer/judge is going to ask you why wouldnet you demand the rent right away?? ....i think because my friend was in this same situation and he juts gave up after 4 months of trying to get his money back

  8. #8
    Kedo's Avatar
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    Re: need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant

    Quote Originally Posted by kingsha View Post
    I do intend to take it to small claims court. Im thinking of hiring a private investigator to locate her for me. I know she is in Missisauga or the surrounding area. But really....would emails count as sufficient proof to the judge to award me the case. In these emails from last year she acknowledges the amount she owed me.
    I don't think you want to go the PI route as you will spend more than you will recoup I think.
    In the end it may end up being a hard lesson learned and you will just have to accept there are Aholes everywhere. Sorry to hear you got burned.

    Don't give up just be cautious of throwing good money after bad if you know what I mean.

  9. #9

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    Re: need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant

    Unfortunately as some have mentioned its very difficult to go after trouble tenants. Yes there is a chance you'll find her and the judge may force her to pay...but even then she can make up some bs story and you'll get minimal payment monthly over a very long period of time.

    The money you spend going after her will most likely cost you more then the money owed...and I'm fairly certain you can't sue for that $ either. I hope you have documentation showing she didn't pay right away as that will be asked why you didn't go after the $ immediately.


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  10. #10
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    Re: need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant

    Quote Originally Posted by mimico_polak View Post
    The money you spend going after her will most likely cost you more then the money owed...and I'm fairly certain you can't sue for that $ either. I hope you have documentation showing she didn't pay right away as that will be asked why you didn't go after the $ immediately.
    As long as the OP can find her current address without spending a lot of cash, and as long as the OP has some reasonable form of acceptable documentation that a rental agreement did exist and that she broke that agreement, he can start proceedings against her for very little money. She will in turn be forced to respond to those proceedings. After that, who knows. She might cave and pay up or at least come up with some offer to settle the matter, or she might go to court and argue that the OP constructively terminated her tenancy through harassment or providing unsafe/unhealthy living conditions. It's a bit of a crap shoot, but the OP doesn't have to ante up much cash to bring the former tenant to the table.

  11. #11
    The Road Warrior's Avatar
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    Re: need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant

    Get a baseball bat, and then play ball!
    Last edited by The Road Warrior; 04-21-2012 at 06:49 PM.

  12. #12
    Kedo's Avatar
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    Re: need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant

    Guaranteed to get your money back......but then there is the chance of lawyer fees

  13. #13
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    Re: need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant

    Heh, I had to edit my post, don't want to get in trouble with mods.

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    Re: need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant

    tell her to put out to repay her debt

  15. #15
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    Re: need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant

    dont even waste your time.

    even if you won, which is doubtfull, you wouldnt win what you'd spend trying to win.

    the renter is always given the benefit of the doubt, plus shes a woman.
    and if she has a kid, you'll be lucky to get out without having to pay her....lol

  16. #16
    The Road Warrior's Avatar
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    Re: need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant

    Quote Originally Posted by braveheart View Post
    dont even waste your time.

    even if you won, which is doubtfull, you wouldnt win what you'd spend trying to win.
    Yes but there would be the satisfaction knowing that the ***** lost money and paid up in the end. That alone is worth the lawyer fees, making sure the crook pays at the end and that justice is served.

  17. #17
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    Re: need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant

    Quote Originally Posted by The Road Warrior View Post
    Yes but there would be the satisfaction knowing that the ***** lost money and paid up in the end. That alone is worth the lawyer fees, making sure the crook pays at the end and that justice is served.
    You don't need a lawyer to go the small claims court route.

  18. #18
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    Re: need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant

    I had battled a dead beat dad for years in court, I understand your frustration and your need for satisfaction. I had my darling ex turn the tables and tried suing me for custody and child support, when he couldn't provide his financial statement to the courts...the whole thing got thrown out. I spent years trying to get this "satisfaction" and in the end I realized life is too short to spend it hating ppl. I agree with the majority, gonna cost more in the long run and this "satisfaction" that justice was served is a long shot without receipts and a contract.
    I represented myself in court and got to know the system pretty well...what I learned? Good people get screwed all the time. Even if you get a judgement, like was previously posted, they only have to pay a minimum (as low as $10) a month and have lots of time to disappear, work under the table etc.
    Just my 2 cents
    People are stupid. They will believe anything you tell them either because they want it to be true or afraid that it is.

  19. #19
    Kedo's Avatar
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    Re: need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant

    Quote Originally Posted by BikerFairy View Post
    I had battled a dead beat dad for years in court, I understand your frustration and your need for satisfaction. I had my darling ex turn the tables and tried suing me for custody and child support, when he couldn't provide his financial statement to the courts...the whole thing got thrown out. I spent years trying to get this "satisfaction" and in the end I realized life is too short to spend it hating ppl. I agree with the majority, gonna cost more in the long run and this "satisfaction" that justice was served is a long shot without receipts and a contract.
    I represented myself in court and got to know the system pretty well...what I learned? Good people get screwed all the time. Even if you get a judgement, like was previously posted, they only have to pay a minimum (as low as $10) a month and have lots of time to disappear, work under the table etc.
    Just my 2 cents
    I feel your pain. Been there done that......Got Screwed that is.
    No dinner, no vaseline, just right up the

    It made me smile to see you say life's too short as I adapted that long ago as many people just stay bitter......and die bitter

  20. #20
    mikbusa's Avatar
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    Re: need some advice - attempting to sue past basement tenant

    Seeing as how this is the "General Motorcycle Discussion" forum, I suggest a Ninja 250.

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