How to Deal with Abandoned Goods

If you have tenants that leave items behind, you may assume you can do whatever you’d like with them – keep them, sell them, or throw them away. However, this is not the case; when dealing with abandoned goods you have obligations as the landlord, and you’ll want to make sure you protect yourself in case the former tenants come back demanding their things.

The first step is asses what’s been left behind. Write down and take pictures of all pertinent items that have been abandoned. If you so choose, you can also enlist an appraiser to come in and value any items. While you can throw away perishable food items, if you want to fully protect yourself you shouldn’t really go any further.

After fully assessing and recording what you’re dealing with, contact the former tenants and explain the situation. If you’re unable to get a hold of them by phone – or even if you are – you’ll want to send them a certified letter stating they have a certain amount of time (30 days, usually) to collect their belongings. State that if they fail to do so, the items will either be sold or donated. Also include that until then, the items will be stored at the former tenant’s expense.

If they come to pick up their property, then the problem is resolved. However, if they don’t then you will need to take the next steps in selling or donating their property. This can be a tedious job, but it’s also a way to potentially recoup costs. Be sure to fully document everything so you can protect yourself if something comes up in the future.

Perhaps the easiest way to prevent all of this hassle is to include something in the original lease or renter’s agreement regarding abandoned goods. There should still be a reasonable amount of time allotted, and you should still try to contact them directly to come pick up their stuff, but preparing for that potential scenario can prevent future heartache.

So plan ahead and fully protect yourself, and managing abandoned goods shouldn’t be a problem at all.