Tenant evicted, let behind a whole house of stuff

[Mark M.]

I evicted a tenant last week and he left behind essentially an entire house of furniture and other stuff including two refrigerators full of food that I'm now paying to keep cold since I have taken over electricity. I know he has 30 days to get everything and that I can charge a storage fee. Can I restrict access to his property unless he pays the fee? Or is it something that I am supposed to just tack onto his "bill" that will never be paid and that I need to give him access whenever he wants. I don't know how to deal with this. He doesn't seem to have any incentive to empty the house until his time is almost up and I can't really begin to prep the house until his stuff is out. I'd rather not go through the hassle of paying of moving company and renting a storage unit. Suggestions?

Thanks.

[Heidi Kenefick]

I have zero experience with this, but I would hire a moving company to put it in storage. Then when he pays the fee he can have his stuff. If he does not pay the fee then let the storage company auction it off.

In the mean time you can clean the place and change the locks. Let him know in writing where he can get his stuff after he pays the fee and include the moving and storage costs In the fee.

Not sure if that’s legal, but seems like the best way to move forward for you.