- Jurisdiction
- Washington
I have a tenant who has turned out to be an unexpected problem. I told him that he wasn't allowed to smoke in the place but he wouldn't listen and ultimately I gave him notice that he had to leave. I kept his security deposit to address the residue of what he left behind in spite of him demanding it back. He received a bill but he still wouldn't accept the answer that he is responsible and that this isn't ordinary damage he's caused.
I was in the process of renting out the place again to a new person. To prevent losses, I asked for a month's worth of security deposit and the first and last month's rent in advance, especially since this person wanted an option to renew that would be 2 years. He asked why and I mentioned that a prior renter (no name) had left me with a lot of problems that left me with significant costs. While I certainly didn't think it would be an issue, I really couldn't know at the beginning of our relationship and hoped he would understand. It turns out this person knows my prior tenant from around the neighborhood and the coincidence or living in the same place was mentioned in conversation, including my comments. I just received a text that the prior tenant intends to sue me in small claims court for defamation. I think this is just stupid harassment but I could see this person being crazy enough to file this. Any thoughts?
I was in the process of renting out the place again to a new person. To prevent losses, I asked for a month's worth of security deposit and the first and last month's rent in advance, especially since this person wanted an option to renew that would be 2 years. He asked why and I mentioned that a prior renter (no name) had left me with a lot of problems that left me with significant costs. While I certainly didn't think it would be an issue, I really couldn't know at the beginning of our relationship and hoped he would understand. It turns out this person knows my prior tenant from around the neighborhood and the coincidence or living in the same place was mentioned in conversation, including my comments. I just received a text that the prior tenant intends to sue me in small claims court for defamation. I think this is just stupid harassment but I could see this person being crazy enough to file this. Any thoughts?