Did I say Ex tenant was a state trooper? I believe I mentioned partner to this girl had a drug history and I would have never rented to her alone? Well, the extra time we gave them amounted to nothing, wish I hadn't done that. Her mom pittled around and I saw NOTHING that she had cleaned or done to improve anything. Tenant had written a statement to the Judge with a sob story about how she had paid all of the bills and the ad had said 650.00 and I had rented to them at 675.00 because of the dog and that should have covered the cost of the carpet in the 4 years. (She conveniently left off that we had not gone up on her rent) She brought up about ex cheating on her, etc. Laid the pity party out that she had left last November, blah blah.

I quietly spoke up that he needed to see the photos that I had just taken on my husband's phone, would he please look at them? So he sent my DH to go get his phone. I handed the Bailiff my before photos for him to look at as well as the 4 year old invoice for HD carpet PLUS my handwritten cost of carpet today added to it. The Judge slowly shook his head and after reviewing all of the pics of the atrocious carpet stains and ripped flooring and the door with the bottom half chewed off, he did not hesitate to inform the young lady that "This did not happen overnight, and you were on the lease and need to be held responsible for the amount that we asked for!" He divided the damage cost between them $1,769.38 (total). The rent he charged to the other girl. So all in all it went very fairly as I blame myself for not being proactive.

There is a LOT to do and we have to get busy. I did not even get into how the unit had been smoked in, and almost all of the edge strips on the door frames are gone, but we'll suck it up as it was just too much to try to claim. Sorry this is so long.

I am not going to be so foolish as to spend that amount on new carpet, and plan to use the difference to cover the other damages our handyman will document. Because #1 we will never be able to collect, but they need to be punished for what they did. (credit ding)

I am happy that it is over for you. except for the pain of a full rehab.

I did the biggest sin of ALL on these 2. Ignored a bad landlord reference, so I got exactly what I deserved. She had one good reference and current was bad, and that tells you she was too honest to try to put them off on me to get rid of them! When I asked if she would rent to them again and she said no, I should have RUN not walked away. I asked them about it and they gave all kinds of reasons I don't even remember now.

I was impressed by the State trooper, she was very professional acting. Acting being the key word. It was all an act.

Right now, I have one good prospect (meaning job wise). All the bad is she and BF both smoke, has 2 cats, 2 dogs, & 2 boys between them. So I am not doing that. Another red flag, offering to help us fix it up in lieu of deposit. PASS!