If you have receipts, then you have no problems.
Personally, I would draft a professional letter and address it to the new landlord/property manager. It would include a recap of the demand for $X "for unpaid rent from 09/13, 01/14, and 03/14", it would include copies of all receipts showing that I paid rent, and it would include a request to close this matter promptly. The letter would be sent 'signature required'.
"
June 27, 2014
Dear John Smith,
On June 15, 2014, Donna Tyler from the leasing office of Welsh Property Management contacted me regarding past due rent. Ms. Tyler stated that I owed rent for September 2013, January 2014, and March 2014, for a total of $3000. I have included copies of my cancelled checks, made out to Welsh Property Management, for each of these months. I have also included copies of the original receipts issued to me for each of these months.
Please resolve this matter with bookkeeping and records as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Rose Jones
June 27, 2014"
Like @simpson suggests, it's really not your problem, but you can help them figure that out by showing them (copies of) your proof.
This type of case would not go to court, since no client will find a lawyer who would sue you for something you already can prove you paid. That's the sort of frivolous claim that gets an attorney's license suspended. The previous landlord, however, may have some splaining to do to the district attorney...
If you have receipt of payment, then you are fine. The secretary can 'brush it off' all she wants, but you have proof. Also, if you paid your rent with a check, obtain copies of the 'cancelled checks' from your bank, as they should have photocopies available. You can probably view them through your online account.
These new owners are morons. It really does not matter if you did or did not pay at any time before the day they legally took possession of the property. ANY rent paid or not prior to them owning the property has nothing to do with them. Even if you did pay it they are not entitled to it.
Make sure you continue to get receipts or if they refuse only pay by money order & get a copy before you give it to them. Be prepared to have more problems with these idiots.
Make copies of the receipts and mail them to the new owner. Find out the name and address of the new owner and mail them to that person by certified mail, with a letter explaining why you are sending them. Don't be critical of the secretary, & say nothing about the former owner being a criminal.
Tell the new l/l to piss off. you paid the rent and you can prove it. embezzlement by the previous owner is the new owner's problem, and they can sue the previous owner to recover.
YOU are NOT liable.
what morons. did it occur to them to go through the books BEFORE closing the deal? apparently not.
Pay future rent on time as agreed (to the new landlord) and do nothing about the alleged debt from previous months. If they attempt to evict you and/or sue you for the unpaid rent then you appear in court and show that the rent was paid.
I'm not sure how a landlord could be "embezsling money" since any rent paid legally belongs to them anyway, but bottom line is that the new owner is only entitled to collect rent starting on the day they became the legal owner. If any rent was pre-paid to the previous owner the money should have been transferred to the new owner as part of the sale. If it wasn't, then that's not your problem, the new owner can sue the old owner to collect the debt. Either way, your rent was paid, you have proof, so tell them to jump in a creek.
EDIT: Although you have a good defense (proof of payment) if you end up in court, the new landlord probably will not renew your lease if they think you owe them money, so be prepared to move out at the end of your lease.
Your new landlord is a crook or stupid. Show him receipts and tell him to piss off.
Receipts help keep your receipts
That's weird
My building was sold to a new landlord and they have been going through the books. Apparently the previous landlord was embezzling money and now the new landlord wants me to pay back all the rent from 2013 to now. However, I have all the receipts and when I showed it to the secretary she kind of brushed it off. What do i do?
Take it to court, either that find a new place to live they cant force u to pay they can only evict u
