ANNE ARUNDEL, CALVERT, CHARLES, ST. MARY’S & PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES.
Rent & Lease Arrears | Haskell & Dyer
A Tenant Who Walked Away Still Owes What They Signed For.
Unpaid rent or a tenant who broke the lease and left a balance behind. We help landlords and property owners recover what the lease entitles them to.
Do Not Write It Off
Frustration is not a reason to lose the money.
Many landlords give up on a departed tenant's balance out of sheer frustration. That is money left on the table. A lease is a contract, and the unpaid rent and damages it covers are usually recoverable. The balance does not disappear because the tenant did. It disappears because no one pursued it.
Why the Lease Matters
A Signed Lease Is a Contract
A lease is a written agreement with terms you can enforce, the same as any other contract.
The Lease
A Signed Lease Is a Contract
A lease is not a handshake. It is a written agreement that sets the rent, the term, and what the tenant owes if they break it. When a tenant stops paying or leaves early, that document is your foundation for recovering the unpaid rent and the costs the lease allows.
What We Recover
More Than Just Back Rent
Depending on the lease and the facts, recovery can reach past-due rent, the balance owed for breaking the term early, and certain damages and costs the lease provides for. We read the lease, document the balance, and pursue what you are actually owed, not just the last unpaid month.
By the Numbers
Why Acting Early Pays Off
An old balance against a tenant who has moved on is harder to collect with every month that passes.
Under 90 days
is when a past-due balance is most collectible
Collection-industry benchmarks
A contract
a signed lease is enforceable like any written agreement
Maryland law
Years
Maryland sets a deadline to sue on a lease debt, and the clock runs
Maryland time limits
What We Pursue
The Lease Debts We Handle
If a signed lease set the terms and the tenant did not honor them, we can likely pursue it.
Past due rent
Lease defaults
Early lease breaks
Unpaid balances after move-out
Damages the lease allows
Residential and commercial leases
Attorney Insight
A lease is a contract, and a tenant who walks away still owes what they signed for. Landlords often write it off out of frustration. Much of that money is recoverable if you move before the trail goes cold.
Matthew J. Dyer, Esq.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer
A Closer Look
Documenting the Balance Is Half the Battle
The landlords who recover the most are the ones who can show exactly what they are owed. A clean record beats a rough estimate every time. That means the signed lease, a ledger of what was charged and paid, notice of the unpaid balance, and, where there is property damage, photos and receipts that back up the number.
Strong documentation does two things. It makes a demand far more convincing, because the tenant can see the math is real and not guesswork. And if the matter goes to court, it gives you a clear, provable claim instead of a he-said dispute. A lease debt with solid records is one of the more straightforward debts to enforce.
As with every debt, time is working against you. A tenant who just left is easier to locate and reach than one who moved twice and changed jobs. Maryland sets a deadline to sue on a lease debt, and a fresh balance is more collectible than a stale one. The lease gives you the right. Acting on it gives you the money.
Why It Matters
What an Unpaid Lease Costs
A departed tenant's balance is real money, and it is usually more than one month of rent.
Back Rent
The unpaid months owed
The Term
Rent lost from an early break
Damages
Beyond normal wear, where allowed
Your Time
Lost chasing it alone
How We Recover Lease Arrears
We treat the lease as the contract it is: document the balance, demand it, and pursue it in court when needed.
We Review the Lease
We read the lease to confirm the rent, the term, and every charge the tenant owes for breaking it.
We Build the Ledger
We help document the balance with a clear record of charges, payments, and damages that stands up.
We Demand Payment
A law-firm demand backed by the lease and a clean ledger moves many former tenants to settle.
We Pursue and Enforce
If payment does not come, we sue on the lease and enforce the judgment to actually collect.
Common Questions
Rent & Lease Arrears, Answered
The tenant already moved out. Can I still collect unpaid rent?
Yes. A tenant who leaves does not erase what they owe. A signed lease is a contract, and the unpaid rent and any balance for breaking the term early remain a debt you can pursue. The main challenge is locating the former tenant and acting before the balance ages, which is why moving sooner rather than later helps.
Can I recover rent for the months left on the lease, not just what is past due?
Often, in part. When a tenant breaks a lease early, they may owe for the remaining term, though a landlord generally has to make reasonable efforts to re-rent and reduce the loss. What you can recover depends on the lease and the facts. We review the agreement and pursue the rent and costs you are realistically owed.
What about damage to the property beyond the unpaid rent?
Depending on the lease and the condition of the unit, you may be able to recover for damage beyond normal wear and tear, on top of the unpaid rent. Documentation is key: photos, receipts, and a clear record make the claim far stronger. Bring what you have and we will tell you what is recoverable.
How long do I have to sue a former tenant in Maryland?
Maryland sets a deadline to sue on a debt, including a lease debt, and it depends on the type of agreement. The window is measured in years, not forever. Once it closes, the balance may be unenforceable in court. Because the exact deadline depends on your lease and situation, it is worth confirming before too much time passes.
Is a small balance worth pursuing?
Sometimes, and it depends on the amount and the likelihood of recovery. A firm demand on law-firm letterhead resolves some balances quickly without a lawsuit. For others, the cost of pursuit has to be weighed against what is realistically collectible. We will give you an honest read so you can decide where the line is.
Your Lease Gave You the Right. Let's Collect.
A tenant who walked away still owes what they signed for, and much of it is recoverable if you act before the trail goes cold. Reach out and we will pursue the balance the lease entitles you to.
Talk to us today: 301-627-5844