how do i get my rent?

I would evict them immediately, can you have the local sheriffs office serve an eviction notice, they serve everything else, don't see why if you paid them, they couldn't serve it too.

oh heavens, da, i'm so sorry that you're going through this, it's a shame, it can be hard to find good tenants. can you do what good suggested nad have the sherrif involved? i remember when i lived above a couple who never paid on time, my landlord served them an eviction notice and the sherrif even knocked on my door!! they wont stop until they serve them in person, so that may be a good idea and that may knock the sense into them. let us know what happens

You can definately get the sheriff involved, pay him and he will serve the paperwork, may give them a little scare, huh debtstinker, lol

The law is there to protect people from vicious credit collectors, if you go on the debt forum you can read some of the horror stories about the states that let them garnish wages, credit card companies and other collection agencies would not hesitate. I feel bad for you that you are not getting your rent, but I am glad the garnishment law is in place.

You may be able to get them out and get someone else in to try and at least not lose any more money. You don't have to keep them, that is not the law, you should call the sheriff just to get them out.

Youve got two separate issues going on here:

1) You want to get them out of your premises. This is called an order for possession or sometimes a forcible detainer. You can serve them with papers, get the judge to sign off on the order, and then the sheriff will come and forcibly remove them from your premises. (And yes, you will have to pay all the court costs up front, but read on).

2) The second thing is that these people owe you money. You obviously want the back rent that is owed, and you want them to pay for court costs. You need a money judgment for this, which is a separate complaint from the actual eviction. File a complaint in small claims court for the amount they owe you. Go through the process and get a judgment. Then, if you know where they work, you can go on to garnish their wages.

In some locales, you may be able to file a joint action and combine the two complaints into one ... sue them for money at the same time you're evicting them. Just depends on your court rules.

Dadummy,

Work out plans to evacuate the house. Just tell me whether they have the capability to pay? If they do, use the Sheriff but if they really dont you will not be able to squeeze an ounce out of them. So try to get them out as cracker said.

OMG, see what happens when you give people a break, how is it going now, are you still dealing with your dead beat renter?

Exactly. that is why a person should do a background check before hand. I know it may cost but it is better than being out of a lot of money. I would also see if this can be reported to the credit bureau so that the low lifes do not do it to anyone else.