Urgent Guidance Needed–Abandoned Tenant Belongings After Fire & Non-Renewal of Lease

[Mackenzie Myers]

I hope this message finds you all well. I’m reaching out to seek guidance regarding a difficult situation involving my first investment property, which I purchased in January 2025 with the intention of using it as a house hack.

When I purchased the property, one unit was vacant, and the other was occupied by long-term tenants who had lived there for over eight years. They were respectful, had no prior issues, and even prepared the home for our initial viewing.

However, in late March, the property unfortunately caught fire. Thankfully, no one was injured, but the home sustained significant damage. After the fire investigation concluded, it was determined the tenants had accidentally caused the fire due to negligent cigarette use.

The home is currently in a condemned state, being renovated and is expected to be completed by November 2025. Given the circumstances and the tenants’ role in the incident, we decided not to renew their lease, which was month-to-month. We provided a 30-day non-renewal notice that they signed and agreed to. The notice also clearly stated that all personal belongings and trash must be removed before the end of the lease term.

After the lease ended and we received no communication from the tenants, I conducted a final walk-through of the unit. To my surprise, nearly every room—including the basement, living room, kitchen, bedrooms, attic, and bathroom—was filled with personal belongings: couches, a dog crate, fish tanks, dressers, TV stands, eleven tires, and significant trash.

Given that the tenants left the property in this condition and the $1,200 security deposit will not come close to covering the cost of removing everything, I’m unsure how to proceed.

My questions are:

1. 1. Am I legally allowed to remove and dispose of the tenants’ abandoned belongings with a junk removal company?
2. 2. Is it worth contacting an attorney to pursue reimbursement from the tenants?
3. 3. Do I have any other legal obligations before proceeding with disposal?

I would deeply appreciate any advice or next steps you can provide to help me handle this situation properly and within legal bounds.

Thank you in advance for your time and support.