What is the name of your state? Missouri
I had a tenant that was continuously late with rent. I've learned to have a written contract even if you know the individual. I had to continuously hunt my rent money down each month. There was a month that the rent was at least 43 days late. I just continued to request my money. Upon their leaving the rental property, the tenant told me to keep the $400.00 deposit for the late rent for several months and the aggrivation of late banking fees. Next, she state to take out the last half of the months rent for their final month. That was at the end of January. Today, I received a voice mail indicating that she is going to sue me for the nonreturn of deposit which she said to keep.
The tenants removed the livingroom carpet with the agreement of replacement which never took place. The stapled strip boards are still present all around the edges of the room. Trash bags are still stacked in the house. Boxes of glasses and cups are still on the counter. Emplty boxes are still in the cabinets. Trash is on the back porch and under the carport. Brocken glass is on the front porch. Stickers were placed on the paneling. I was just glad to get the tenants out and gone. Now with the threat of a lawsuit that "her friend which is a lawyer is really pushing". I'm not sure of where I stand on the verbal agreement and what can I actually place in a countersuit against them? I know in the state of Missouri a landlord is to give in writing within 30 days the reason for nonreturn of deposit. She was the one to state keep it (the deposit). I wasn't deducting anything at the time of our conversation. I do have pictures of mess and staple strips. What should I do and where should I go from here?
I had a tenant that was continuously late with rent. I've learned to have a written contract even if you know the individual. I had to continuously hunt my rent money down each month. There was a month that the rent was at least 43 days late. I just continued to request my money. Upon their leaving the rental property, the tenant told me to keep the $400.00 deposit for the late rent for several months and the aggrivation of late banking fees. Next, she state to take out the last half of the months rent for their final month. That was at the end of January. Today, I received a voice mail indicating that she is going to sue me for the nonreturn of deposit which she said to keep.
The tenants removed the livingroom carpet with the agreement of replacement which never took place. The stapled strip boards are still present all around the edges of the room. Trash bags are still stacked in the house. Boxes of glasses and cups are still on the counter. Emplty boxes are still in the cabinets. Trash is on the back porch and under the carport. Brocken glass is on the front porch. Stickers were placed on the paneling. I was just glad to get the tenants out and gone. Now with the threat of a lawsuit that "her friend which is a lawyer is really pushing". I'm not sure of where I stand on the verbal agreement and what can I actually place in a countersuit against them? I know in the state of Missouri a landlord is to give in writing within 30 days the reason for nonreturn of deposit. She was the one to state keep it (the deposit). I wasn't deducting anything at the time of our conversation. I do have pictures of mess and staple strips. What should I do and where should I go from here?