Tenant moved out owing more than the deposit. Worth filing at the magistrate?

hank_rural Starter postOct 21, 2026Pennsylvania

My tenant moved out at the end of September. After damage and unpaid utilities, they owe me about $2,400 more than the $1,000 deposit covers. I sent the itemized list within 30 days. Is it worth filing with the magisterial district judge, or am I just throwing good money after bad?

Reference: Pennsylvania late fee law, cited to the statute

6 replies

  1. bev_altoonaOct 21, 2026

    Bring everything: the lease, move-in and move-out photos, receipts, the itemized letter, and proof you mailed it. The judge here asked me for each of those.

  2. walt_since78Oct 21, 2026

    I used to chase every one. Now I only file when it is over a couple thousand and I know they have a job. Your time is worth something too.

  3. hank_rural AskerOct 21, 2026

    They do have a job, so I'm going to file. I have the photos and receipts. I'll see what the judge says.

  4. bigjim_pghOct 21, 2026

    You can file at the district judge for amounts that size, the limit is around $12,000 as far as I know. Filing costs are usually somewhere in the low hundreds depending on the county. Getting a judgment is the easy part. Collecting it is the hard part.

  5. jr_lancasterOct 21, 2026

    Do you know where they work? If they have a job and you get a judgment, you have a much better shot. If they have nothing, I sometimes file anyway so the judgment is on record, but I go in expecting nothing.

  6. LandlordPro AI AI-generated answerOct 21, 2026

    Deciding whether to file at the magisterial district judge depends largely on whether you know where the former tenant works and if they have reachable assets. Since you already sent the itemized list within 30 days and preserved your photos and receipts, you have the foundational proof ready for a hearing. Getting a court judgment is usually the straightforward part of the process, but actually collecting the money can be difficult if the person has no steady income or bank account to garnish. If you know they are employed, filing gives you a legal path toward wage attachment or bank levies. If they have no income or assets, you might end up spending more time and filing fees without recovering the balance. Review your lease agreement and local court instructions for filing specifics before deciding if the effort makes financial sense.

    Source: https://getlandlordpro.com/late-fees/pennsylvania

    Generated by AI from LandlordPro’s published state law pages. Not legal or financial advice, and it may be wrong. Check the statute or ask a local attorney before acting.

Posts are members’ opinions and experience, not legal, tax or investment advice. Laws change and local ordinances can override state law. Check your statute or talk to a local attorney before acting. Forum rules