Quote:
Originally Posted by DALEPQ
We are seasonal and have rented out a house in TV on a signed 1 yr. rental agreement.
The renters unexpectedly breached the agreement and moved out, leaving a net
amount of unpaid rent due of $1000.+, which is left after using the Security Deposit.
We are now back in TV and have found where they re-located to in TV.
Have contacted them to pay what is owed on the unpaid rent, they are refusing to pay.
Looks like my only recourse is to file a suit in Sumter County Small Claims Court.
I did check on-line and looks like I can self-represent. The cost to file looks to be $195.,
which I think I can also add to the claim.
I don't know what they could possibly have as a defense, as they flat out breached the
rental agreement. They had been there for nearly 7 months prior to leaving, and we had no prior issues of any kind with them during that time.
Has anybody filed in Sumter County Small Claims Court? Having comments to share?
Thanks in advance.
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I don't know if this would work, but it's my understanding that Florida has some pretty stringent laws against defrauding another if the fraud is by a check. Let's say you plan on renting the house in the future, and the rental period is for three months, would it be worthwhile to have the renter write three separate checks one for each month they plan to be there, which you would then hold and only cash when each month is up? If the person wanted to skip out on the contract and tried stopping payment of the check, then I would think this to be an act of fraud and subject to the filing of criminal charges. This might be something to run past an attorney or the county/city law director. It's just something to think about.