Question before I rent out.

[CarolMN]

.....(snip)....That experience alone would make me hesitate to rent unless I had an ironclad contract to recoup expenses.

In your case, it would have cost far more to enforce the "ironclad contract" than it would to just pay the outstanding charges. I think even most small claims courts cost more than $40 and which state would you file your claim? How would you collect even if you won?

In all fairness, we don't hear of very many situations like this (I can only recall two, counting yours), but it is definitely a risk of renting.