Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 2/17/2008

Question
I AM RENTING MY HOME TO A CPL IN THE MARINES IN VIRGINIA. THE LEASE STATED TO HAVE UTILITIES PUT IN THEIR NAME BEFORE MOVING IN. I LET HIM MOVE IN BEFORE HE DID THIS. finally GOT IT DONE ON THE 12TH. i HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE RENT YET..DUE ON FIRST AND TODAY IS 17TH. I'M TRYING TO BE NICE GUY. ANY SUGGESTIONS.
THANK YOU
BOB

Answer
Dear Bob --

I would send him a registered letter that restates the terms of his lease very simply, and gives him a week to pay you what he owes.  Also state that if you do not receive the rents owed you by that time, you will go to his company commander, to get force the corporal to pay the monies he owes you.

He will not want his commander involved in this issue, and will likely comply quickly with your request.  A caution to you: as a corporal, he has probably never rented on his own, and may think you pay the month after having lived there, not pre-pay by the first of the month for the next month.

If he ignores your request, you may indeed need to get his command involved.  You could talk to the post locator or the installation judge advocate general's office to find out how to reach the corporal's command.

All the best in resolving this problem.