Landlord Question and Answer Forum

With sheriff's present, we will remove tenant and their belongings, but that city is not allowed we put the stuff on the street, what can we do with the stuff?

I am not 100% on the question you are asking but I would say the safest bet with personal belongings is to hand deliver them to the sheriffs office or the city police. Give the individuals (prior tenants) name and other personal identifying information to the police at handover and then contact the prior tenant in email (or any way possible) to notify them that their belongings are safe and at a police station. I have done this before but only with a small amount of stuff... not furniture obviously. Have you called the local police department to ask what your options are? Depending on the state, if said individual leaves his personal belongings abandoned in the rented unit for so long, you can take over possession and sell or do what needs to be done with it. I would check on an actual time frame for this though.

Posted by Jodi & Mike R, VA on Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Thanks for your input. The tenant are still live there, sheriff will remove them, for the stuff, we asked sheriff, we were told we can haul the stuff to the city land fill ( everything, good and trash), I am not sure if this is ok, any has any idea if we can throw them away or hire a trsh hauling company to haul them away, thank for any input.

Posted by Steven W, MO on Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Thanks for your input. The tenant are still live there, sheriff will remove them, for the stuff, we asked sheriff, we were told we can haul the stuff to the city land fill ( everything, good and trash), I am not sure if this is ok, any has any idea if we can throw them away or hire a trsh hauling company to haul them away, thank for any input.

Posted by Steven W, MO on Wednesday, July 11, 2012

I have heard in the past, don't recall from where, that you are allowed to remove tenant's belongings to a storage unitl at YOUR cost and YOU pay for the storage fees. I'm not sure how long you have to pay for the storage - I'm assuming it is 3 mos and afer that the storage co can do what they may. You must inform the tenant legally as to where their belongings are. I suggest you contact a lawyer to be sure before you remove anything. Good Luck.

Posted by Kathleen L, MA on Friday, July 13, 2012