Yes, but don't expect the tenant to make winning or collection easy. Depending on the amount you want to collect, you may be able to sue in a justice of the peace ( small claims) court, but the loser can appeal to county court, where the case is retried as if never tried in JP court. Even with a written lease, you could be up against the same problem, although a deposit would have given you some relief. A contract is only as good as the people who enter it.You should consult an attorney to determine how much you might be able to recover if you win and are able to collect it. That will depend on facts you haven't provided here.