What To Do If a Tenant Leaves Belongings Behind
The ins and outs of being a landlord or rental property owner can be quite the job. It comes with a host of problems from one day to the next. And one of them, unfortunately, can be when tenants leave their stuff behind. That leads to some reasonable questions. What do you do if a tenant leaves belongings behind?
There are always these kinds of questions when you manage enough property like we do. Our property managers in Atlanta are the type that know exactly how to appropriate deal with it. It’s ideally something that is established in the lease and set in stone so there aren’t any questions when it comes up. But let’s get into it. Let’s tackle what landlords should do if a tenant leaves belongings behind. In this article, we will go over the following:
- What To Do If a Tenant Leaves Belongings Behind – We will make sure to answer the questions, with room for understanding that the answer can vary based on location.
- Tips for Tenants During Move Out – We will then go over some tips for landlords when tenants move out.
- How a Property Manager Could Help – And finally, we’ll touch on how hiring a property manager can go a long way towards making these situations and many more much easier to handle.
What To Do If a Tenant Leaves Belongings Behind
It happens more often than you might think: tenants move out and leave things behind. Sometimes it’s a few bags of clothes or old furniture… other times, it’s an entire apartment that still looks half-lived in. And it can leave landlords in a tricky spot. You generally don’t want to throw everything out the minute you find it, but you also can’t let someone’s leftovers delay cleaning or re-renting the unit. So what do you do if a tenant leaves belongings behind?
In most cases, the first step is communication. If you can reach the tenant, do it. A quick message or formal written notice letting them know they’ve left items behind and giving them a short window to retrieve them is usually the best approach. Even if they don’t respond, having documentation of your effort goes a long way in protecting you if any disputes pop up later. Be sure to take photos of what’s left behind and keep a record of all correspondence—just in case you’re accused of mishandling their property.
From there, most states have their own rules about how long you must hold onto a tenant’s belongings before getting rid of them. Some give tenants a couple of weeks; others allow you to move things out sooner, as long as you’ve provided notice. In many places, landlords can also recover reasonable costs for storage or disposal, which might come out of the tenant’s security deposit. The key is to check your state and local laws so you’re not left guessing.
If you’re in Georgia, things work a certain way. Once you’ve gone through the legal eviction process and you’ve regained possession of the property, you don’t have to store their items. There aren’t any specific laws that dictate that you need to keep it for any amount of time. You’re allowed to remove them right away, technically, as long as it is clear that the person has vacated. That said, if the tenant moved out voluntarily, it’s still a good idea to give notice and a short pickup window before disposing of anything. It’s just good practice and shows you handled the situation fairly.
Tips for Tenants During Move Out
Move-out day can be a mixed bag for landlords. On one hand, it’s the end of one lease and the start of new possibilities for the property. On the other, it can come with a fair bit of work—inspections, cleaning, repairs, and making sure everything’s handled properly with the tenant’s security deposit. A little organization goes a long way here, especially if you want a smooth transition between tenants. Here are a few tips for handling tenant move-outs the right way.
- Schedule a walkthrough early. Don’t wait until the last minute. Set up a move-out inspection a few days before the tenant leaves so there’s time to address any issues.
- Use a checklist. Having a written move-out checklist helps you stay consistent from one tenant to the next… and it’s good documentation if any disputes come up.
- Take photos of everything. Before and after pictures are a good idea. They’ll back you up if you need to withhold part of the deposit for damages.
- Be clear about the deposit. Let tenants know in writing what the process looks like for getting their deposit back, including timelines and any deductions that might happen.
- Check utilities and keys. Make sure all utilities are transferred or shut off, and also confirm you’ve gotten every key, fob, or garage opener before the lease officially ends.
- Handle leftover items carefully. If a tenant leaves things behind, documenting and storing them at least for a period of time is a good idea.
How a Property Manager Could Help
Dealing with abandoned property is more common than many landlords like to admit. It happens. The important thing is to understand how to handle the situation properly if it ever comes up. Following local laws in your area is important so that the landlord liability is managed… you don’t want legal trouble to come up.
Do you find yourself overwhelmed by all there is to accomplish as a landlord on a daily basis? That is where the property management experts from Bay Property Management Group come in. Our experienced team handles marketing, screening tenants, crafting legally compliant lease agreements, maintenance, and so much more. So, if you are looking for rental property management in Sandy Springs or Atlanta areas, or in Baltimore, Washington D.C., Massachusetts, Texas, or any of our other service areas, contact Bay Property Management Group today!
