My Tenant Destroyed My Property

We hear this all the time:

“My tenant destroyed my property… and didn’t pay X months in rent… what can I do to get my money back?”

It’s one of the most frustrating situations a landlord can face. You’ve already lost months of rent, had to go through the eviction process, and now you’re staring at thousands of dollars in damages.

Naturally, the next question is: “Can I sue them and collect?”

The Hard Truth About Collections

Yes — you can absolutely obtain a judgment for unpaid rent and property damage.

But here’s what most landlords aren’t told:

👉 Getting a judgment is the easy part. Collecting it is the hard part.

Once the tenant is out, they often:

• Move without leaving a forwarding address

• Change jobs (or don’t have one)

• Have no assets to collect against

  
  

Which means you’re left with a judgment… but no clear path to actually getting paid.

Why Employment Information Changes Everything

There is one factor that dramatically increases your chances of recovery:

👉 Knowing where your tenant works

If we have reliable employment information, we can:

• File a separate lawsuit for damages

• Obtain a judgment

• Garnish wages directly from the employer

  
  

That turns a “dead” judgment into a real recovery stream.

Without employment info?

Collection often becomes:

• Time-consuming

• Expensive

• And in many cases… not worth pursuing

  
  

What Smart Landlords Are Doing Differently

The most successful landlords we work with take a proactive approach:

✔️ Collect employer information at lease signing✔️ Update it during tenancy when possible✔️ Verify income sources before problems arise

Because once the tenant is gone, tracking them down becomes significantly harder.

Our Approach at Landlord Legal STL

At Landlord Legal STL, we focus on efficient evictions — but we’re always thinking one step ahead.

If a tenant appears collectible (stable job, known employer), we can help you pursue recovery.

If not, we’ll give you an honest assessment so you don’t throw good money after bad.

If you’re currently dealing with a tenant who caused damage or owes significant money, feel free to reach out — we’re happy to walk you through your options.

P.S. If you’re signing a new lease soon, make sure you’re collecting employment information upfront — it can be the difference between recovering thousands… or nothing at all.

Best,

Landlord Legal STL