Tenants delayed and didn't pay the last month

[littleMike]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MA

My tenant should move at the end of last December, two months earlier, I informed lease won't be renewed. He paid last month rental before moving in. But just three days before the end of the lease, he told me he won't be able to move because of new place couldn't let him move any more. So he stayed additional 18 days and finally gone without paying Jan rental.
According to lease, he needs to pay 120% of his regular rental if holdover. How do I chase his Jan rental effectively? File a small claim to court or something else?


Thanks.

 

[STEPHAN]

Do you have a deposit?

 

[sandyclaus]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MA

My tenant should move at the end of last December, two months earlier, I informed lease won't be renewed. He paid last month rental before moving in. But just three days before the end of the lease, he told me he won't be able to move because of new place couldn't let him move any more. So he stayed additional 18 days and finally gone without paying Jan rental.
According to lease, he needs to pay 120% of his regular rental if holdover. How do I chase his Jan rental effectively? File a small claim to court or something else?


Thanks.

Take the bad former tenant to small claims court, or deduct it from their deposit.