In many parts of the world today, the answer to this question is “yes.” Until about a hundred years ago, the answer in the United States was also “yes”! Then and now, many lenders use the criminal court system as a way to collect money.
But in today’s state of Arizona, the answer to this question is “no.” Debtors’ prisons are illegal in the United States. Officially they ended in the mid-1800’s and were places where people were locked away and forced to “work” off their debts often for years at a time. Due to horrible living and work conditions most died before their release. That’s why in today’s society locking people up for not paying fines is such a controversial practice.
Some people contend that these individuals are not jailed because they are poor, but because they disobeyed court orders and ignored the authority of the court. In the Northern parts of the US, they often call these people “scofflaws.” Other folks don’t see it that way. They contend their victims of poverty conditions or the poverty cycle.
In some other cases, the consequences of unpaid rent might include jail time. For example, if the landlord says you owe back rent and you get in a fight with the landlord, you might find yourself being taken to jail and need the assistance of Sanctuary Bail Bonds (bail bond near me) to quickly handle the bail on assault charges.
Sanctuary Bail Bonds (Bail bonds Phoenix) is more than a quick way to get out of jail if police arrest you. It’s also a good place to get answers to questions like these.
Consequences of Unpaid Rent
You may not need a 24 hour bail bondsman if you fall behind on rent payments, but delinquent rent has some serious consequences.
The moment you sign a 12-month lease, you are liable for the full amount of the rent for the entire year. If your rent is $1,000 a month, that’s $12,000. The landlord simply agrees to let you pay the debt monthly. This is a much different way of looking at rental lease….it now becomes a contract of agreement of debt.
If you do not pay rent on time, the landlord could evict you. If you get evicted, the kicker is that you may still be responsible for any unpaid rent. This outcome depends on whether the landlord is able to rent the property to someone else. In the law, that’s called mitigation of damages.
Whether you owe any money or not, the landlord will probably put your name on the rental property naughty list. If your name is on this list, other landlords may either refuse to rent to you or require a larger security deposit.
What Should I Do if My Landlord is Taking Me to Court for Unpaid Rent?
The answer to this question depends on why you are behind on rent in the first place. If you simply did not pay what you owe, then you need to pay it or make payment arrangements. These things usually make the case go away. You do not even need to hire a lawyer.
On the other hand, there may be a legitimate dispute as to the amount owed. For example, the landlord might refuse to fix your air conditioner, you might pay for a repair person out of your own pocket, and deduct the cost from the rent. If that’s the situation, you probably need a lawyer.
Most importantly, if a landlord – tenant situation escalates and you or a loved one becomes arrested throughout the state of Arizona, simply call Sanctuary Bail Bonds 24/7 any day of the year at (602) BAIL-247 or (602) 224-5247 to speak with our professional bondsman. We provide free bail bond consultation and fast and friendly bail bonding services. To learn more about bail bonds visit our page FAQ-page.
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