A few months ago, we posted a “Pay or Quit” notice to a tenant who had fallen behind and now owed over four figures. This is the second step in our collection process. It falls after communications and requests for payments, and before evictions and a damages judgment. After posting we received an email that stated the tenant was going to move out that weekend. They were going to avoid eviction but would they avoid a damages judgment?

This particular tenant had not only fallen a couple of months behind on the rent, but they also had two months left on the lease. We encourage owners to pursue a tenant for one very good reason. Get a court to give you a judgment and someday, years later, you may find that tenant wanting to pay you! Even better, if the tenant has any assets you can attach the judgment to those assets.