It’s one of the downsides to owning rental properties. Sometimes tenants move out without cleaning out. Of course, you want to have the residence in tip-top shape and rented to a new tenant as soon as possible. So, what do you do with all the stuff? 

Multiple Choice Pop Quiz: 

A. It’s all junk – take it to the landfill or burn it 

B. Setting the junk aside, donate the decent items to Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc. 

C. Forget donating and sell it – it will cover your extra time/expense and leave enough to build up your vacation fund 

D. Some of this stuff is great, and my daughter is moving out, so this will help her get started. 

E. None of the above. 

Hopefully, you chose none of the above and saved yourself a lot of potential trouble. 

Let’s back up to before they moved in. Ideally, you: 

• • Included stipulations about what happens with property left behind. 
  • Your rent fees allow for the cost of the occasional personal property abandonment 
  • Have a good understanding of local and state regulations, legal counsel, or both 

If you didn’t, it will only take one time to deal with the left-behinds, and you will change your move-out process. 

Even if you did, there are things to consider – such as:  

• • Why did your tenant leave? Did they give you notice? 
  • Was their lease fulfilled when they left? 
  • Did you evict them?  
  • Can you clarify whether they abandoned the property or want it back? 

It gets complicated. It’s not a one-paragraph solution. There are differing regulations for various situations, which change locally and by state. 

To get the process moving forward – 

1. 1. Change the locks 
   2. If they left without telling you, confirm that utilities are still connected. 
   3. Get legal counsel, unless you are old hat at this and know the ropes. Click here for information on legalities. 
   4. Document everything that was left – via video.  

Once you understand the process, continue to document every action. For example, if you move items, have a 3rd party witness it and sign your documentation. It may seem like extra work, but it can save a lot of trouble later. Keep an account of your time. If local/state regulations allow you to sell items at some point, you may only be allowed to keep proceeds enough to cover any back rent plus your expenses for getting rid of the personal property. In this case, you can turn in your time as an expense. 

No, it isn’t fun when it happens, but you can get through the process with patience and advice from suitable sources.  

Helping landlords deal with property left behind by tenants is just one of the many services gained when connecting with a property management company. They can save you headaches in multiple ways. If you are thinking about this step, the team at Rentals America appreciates the opportunity to serve you. 

About Rentals America 

Rentals America provides full-service property management for residential rental properties. Our team is completely dedicated to property management and we’re here to help landlords navigate the rental market.