If a landlord loses a eviction case in court can they legally send the tenant’s bill to a collection agency?
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If a landlord loses a eviction case in court can they legally send the tenant’s bill to a collection agency?
Asked on February 13, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Washington
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
By "bill,"I assume you mean rent which the landlord claims is unpaid. (If you mean something else, you should repost the question.)
The answer is, the landlord may well be able to do this. An eviction proceeding determines possession to the rental premises; it does not result in a monetary judgment. Hence, the landlord could lose the eviction proceeding for a variety of reasons (e.g. improper notice; failed to prove some lease violation sufficient to obtain an eviction) but the tenant could still owe rent money which he or she has not paid.
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