Landlords in Missouri and elsewhere sometimes find themselves dealing with difficult tenants. If you have found yourself in such a position, you have a few ways of handling the situation. There are times when the issues at hand can be resolved quickly and easily. However, there are also times when the problems cannot be worked out without legal assistance. When is it appropriate to file legal claims against a tenant?
If talking to your tenant about the problem has gotten you nowhere, legal counsel can help you in a couple of ways. Before jumping straight into filing a civil suit against your tenant, a demand letter may be sent. This letter will state the problem and what you expect the tenant to do to resolve it. If this legal tactic fails to address the issue adequately, then filing legal claims may be appropriate.
There are many reasons why you might consider filing legal claims against your tenant. The law only allows taking such action under specific circumstances. A few common reasons landlords end up suing their tenants include failing to pay rent/utilities, damage to property, property abandonment and other contract breaches.
Filing legal claims against a tenant does not mean your case will end up being heard in a Missouri court. There are alternative dispute resolution methods that may work in your situation. If such methods fail or are deemed inappropriate, however, going to court may be the only way to address the issue — and that is okay. Legal counsel can help you find the best way to deal with your tenant problem and help you seek maximum relief for any losses experienced because of it. To learn more, please take a moment and visit our firm’s website.