My tenant's rent check bounced and when I attempted to reach her at her office, I learned that she no longer works there. I left a message on her cell phone several times, inquiring about getting a replacement check. She left me a voice mail indicating she was sorry about the bounced check and would get me a replacement check that Friday. Her message was on 3/14/2007. When I tried to reach her to schedule a Friday meeting time, I was not able to reach her. I then went that Friday, March 16, 2007, to the rental property to see if her furniture was still there; and it was. I then spoke to a neighbor who told me she that my tenant had previously lived with her mother, not at a prior rental as indicated on her rental application. So I called the telephone number of the supposed prior landlord and indeed it was her mother. She promised to mail me a replacement check which still has not arrived. The neighbor also told me an ambulance had taken my tenant to the hospital about 3 weeks ago (from 3/14/2007). The mother mentioned that her daughter was in the hospital for female surgery and due to get out on 3/16/2007. As of today, 3/22/2007, I cannot reach the mother because she will not answer my calls. I do not get returned calls after leaving messages on the tenant's cell phone voice mail. Last night, 3/21/2007, the neighbor said she had seen no one coming in or out of the rental property all week. She did notice that the city had put some type of document on the door, probably indicating they were shutting off the water due to non-payment.

Is this considered abandonment? Even if I try to serve her with papers, she will not be there to receive them.

What should I do?

Thanks,

Sharon Daniel

What should I do?

Thanks,

Sharon Daniel

First, its not a good idea to piggyback your question on someone else's This can get matters confused. So I'm requesting this be moved to its own thread.

Second, unless this tenant has had a problem in the past I would cut her some slack because of the hospitalization.

I would check to see what the notice that was posted was.

I would then send letters to the current address, the previous address and leave voice mails stating that you expect to receive the March and April rentals by 4/1. If you do not receive them, then you will be forced to initate eviction proceedings.

I would agree with the above, she seems to have had a lot of problems lately and one more week won't change much at this point. Has she ever paid late before? Perhaps she did intend to pay on the 14th but when she was hospitalized this prevented her from getting you the money on time or rescheduling.

But by this time she should have had someone take care of this for her, give her a few days and if she continues to avoid you, evict her, she can move back with mom!