For the last 3 years, I have rented to a married couple with one child. For 36 months, rent ($1,000) was always paid in full and always paid a few days before the due date. When I made 6 month maintenance inspections, this 3/2 house was always clean and in immaculate condition. In addition, I had a good cordial relationship (not personal friends) with this couple and for 36 months I was under the impression I had located the 'perfect tenants' or the type of tenants that any landlord would appreciate. At one point in time, there was talk about them buying the house from me with me holding the paper in an owner-finance deal. That ended up just being talk though and nothing ever came of it.

One week ago today, something totally bizarre happened. Via the US. postal service (snail mail) I received a typed letter from this couple and both door keys were taped to the letter. The letter says they had actually moved out of the house on April 11th (no 30 day notice or any notice) but they waited two weeks before mailing me the typed letter with the door keys enclosed. In the typed letter, they listed some lame excuses (ie. did not like the neighbors) as to why they moved out. They also requested I never contact them again by any means. I drove over to the house, and the house was empty and basically clean. They even left behind a nice stainless steel refrigerator that was brand new 3 years ago.

I sent them a text message saying " Can I assume you all have no desire to get any of your $1,000 security deposit returned ?" That was a week ago and I have not heard one response out of them.

Sounds like they had enough of someone or something.

Pursuit of happiness.

I wouldn't have bothered to do anything other than account for the lack of notice per the terms of the lease, applied their deposit to the balance owed, and sent them a letter at last known address of record (the rental) noting the balance due. It costs 1.5 month's rent to break a lease, and they still have to give 30 days notice, so assuming this was a $1000 / month rental, they'd owe one month's rent plus a $1500 buy out fee. Total $2500, balance due $1500.

"Please do not contact us"... Um, nope. That's not how this works. The law says I am required to give an accounting of the security deposit.

People are funny. They think they can just do whatever and diddy-bop through life making up rules and changing their minds whenever and however it benefits them. I'm here to remind them that's not how life works.

I've had midnight move-outs, but not like yours. Typically someone who has stopped paying rent and the eviction process is rolling.

Never contact you again? There are three sides to every story...

I wouldn't have texted anything, they returned legal possession. If my landlord asked me if I assumed I wouldn't be getting a deposit back, I'd wait until the required notice period expired and then sue them for 3x my security deposit. Whether justified or not.

It doesn't matter why they left. Do your account of the deposit and get it to them on time. If there is no forwarding address, send it to the address they just vacated and send it so that you get a receipt from the post office that says you sent it.

Perfect tenants? They do not exist.

Do accounting send itemization and move forward.

Something very odd happened for them to use those terms "Never darken my door again" essentially...

I've had one midnight move-out in my career, at least that's all I remember. No maybe two. Took awhile but we did find out what happened to one (went to rehab after family intervention) but the other remains a mystery. A kicked-in door and a trashed studio is all we know.

3 years ago when I first screened this couple, they had 2 red flags. $50,000 in student loan debt and since the wife was still a student and was still borrowing more student loan money, that was a red flag. However, the wife did have a full job and made my 3X minimum, so I let that one slide by. The 2nd red flag was a bankruptcy that was 5 years old. The wife said that happened when she got a divorce from her first husband (5 years prior) and now that she had remarried and had her first child, her life choices and financial responsibilities had improved greatly. Her credit score was 575 at the time I screened her. Her husband was disabled and collected a monthly check. Not much to screen there.

"It is what it is". Generic answer.

I would be curious. Not enough to track them down, but maybe enough to do some court look ups or Google their names.

The place is clean, or close, so not much turnover time or costs. Looks like we will get to see another Zillow ad from you shortly.

Zero,

Yes, you will see another Zillow Ad from me on this house but not for a few weeks. I have asked my handyman to build an 8x10 deck on the back of this house and that will take at least 10 days. The house already has a small deck that measures 5x8 feet and that needs to be doubled in size.

I would start advertising and showing the property, when they see the new deck being built it will be considered a bonus

Mike A (TX)

I suspect the same thing. Her student loans are due and I would assume she owes around $70,000 now.

I would still send them 100% of the security deposit.......now before anyone brow beats me let me explain how I do this. I would send it certified to last known address.

What do you suppose is going to happen? In about 45 days you will be getting that certified back but with a paper trail in the event that you were ever challenged. People can get movers remorse, and you can open yourself up to some serious questions from a judge.

I would still send them 100% of the security deposit.......now before anyone brow beats me let me explain how I do this. I would send it certified to last known address.

What do you suppose is going to happen? In about 45 days you will be getting that certified back but with a paper trail in the event that you were ever challenged. People can get movers remorse, and you can open yourself up to some serious questions from a judge.

Ray n PA,

That's a brilliant move Ray, leveraging deadbeat psychology.

Jason,

Ken,

Landlord Tenant laws in my state are vague and poorly written. That being said, in my small poor working class city/county, half of the lawyers, judges and elected politicians here own rental properties themselves. It should not take a rocket scientist to connect the dots here. This is AL and not CA or NY.

NE,