Quote from @Kinju Dudhia:
Quote from @Scott Matthew C.:
Hello fellow Michigander. Nice to meet you @Kinju Dudhia. Thanks for posting your awful experience.
For those who are reading this and starting out, the laws regarding a tenant's abandoned property can vary depending on the state and/or country in which the property is located. Generally, a landlord has a duty to protect the property and maintain the belongings of a tenant who has abandoned the property.
In many cases, the landlord may need to provide the tenant with a written notice of their intent to dispose of the abandoned property. The notice period can also vary depending on the state or country, but it is typically around 14 to 30 days. If the tenant fails to respond to the notice, the landlord may have the right to dispose of the property.
In addition to these laws, there may be specific provisions in the lease agreement that address the situation of an abandoned property. It's important to review the lease agreement and seek legal counsel to ensure that you are following the appropriate laws and procedures in your area.
Ultimately, the best course of action when dealing with an abandoned property is to consult with an attorney or a local housing authority to ensure that you are following the correct procedures and protecting your rights as a landlord.
Best of luck!
**I would not hesitate. Take swift action.
Thank you for your response. How do I find their new address?
Not sure about your local laws but in PA we must hold their stuff for 30 days. After that the stuff is yours and you can sell it or toss it in the dumpster.
Small claims limit is 5K so you would need a lawyer to sue if it comes out to more than 5K. For under 5k it's simple to sue them. They likely won't even show up and you would automatically receive a judgement.
To find their current address try this:
Do this: https://www.landlordology.com/find-deadbeat-ex-tenants/
"Using the last known address of your deadbeat tenant (which is probably your rental property), mail a letter addressed to your old tenant at that address. Before mailing, write on the envelope, “Address Service Requested” as such:
(image of what the addressed letter should look like - the photo is on the link above)
In doing so, your letter will be forwarded to your old tenant’s new address, and the post office will let you know what that new address is. This method works only if the person left a forwarding address, however.
I would also try to look them up on social media. Let's say you find them on Facebook. Now you have a general idea as to where they live. Look them up on the local FB marketplace - you may need to join a few local seller groups for this. Let's say they're selling a couch - have a friend message them asking where to buy the couch - you could get the tenants' address that way too - it's a long-shot but would be worth a try if the USPS method doesn't work.
