Filing A Judgment For Non-Payment of Rent

Dear Phyllis,
I’ve been following your
column for many years, and
about 15 years ago I wrote
to you when you were writing
for the Glendale News Press.
It was regarding a tenant who
had stopped paying rent. This
tenant had been renting my
home in La Crescenta for about
eight years. For the first seven
years, they consistently paid
the rent. But in the final year,
they began making excuse after
excuse and, despite my efforts
to work with them, it became
clear they had no intention of
paying — even a token amount.

After six months of
non-payment, I reached out to
your column and you kindly
referred me to an eviction
attorney who was able to help
me remove the tenant. You
also suggested that I get a
judgment for the back rent.

You explained that a judgment
could affect their ability to get
loans, impact their credit, and
serve as a warning to future
landlords.
When the judgment neared
expiration, I called you and you
encouraged me to renew it — and
I’m glad I did. I just wanted to
let you know that they finally
paid me.

Thank you so much
for your guidance and support
throughout this long process.
— Robert

Dear Robert,
Thank you so much for
your kind words! It’s always
rewarding to hear how things
turn out, especially after such a
long and difficult road.

It’s interesting to note that in
today’s environment evictions
for non-payment of rent take
much longer. My last experience
with a client was about 18
months to get a non-paying
tenant out.

You handled a very
challenging situation with
patience and persistence and
I’m glad to know that the steps
we discussed ultimately paid off
— literally! Many landlords are
unaware that a properly filed
and renewed judgment can have
long-term effects that often lead
to eventual repayment, even
years later.

Your story is a great reminder
for other property owners: don’t
give up, document everything,
and make use of the legal tools
available — including eviction
when necessary and pursuing
a civil judgment. Staying on
the course, as you did, can
eventually bring results.

Congratulations on finally
resolving the issue and
thank you again for sharing
the outcome. I’m sure your
experience will inspire others
dealing with similar challenges.
Phyllis