If a tenant vacates a rental unit, and leaves personal property behind, what is a landlord to do?
Each jurisdiction has it's own laws regarding abandoned personal property. Generally, a landlord must try to contact a former tenant at every known address the tenant has provided including a work address, nearest relative, etc.
Often the law will require a landlord to post a notice of abandonment on the door of the rental unit. If the tenant does not contact the landlord within a specified amount of time, the landlord can then enter the premises and clear the contents. The personal property would then be stored, and the unit can then be turned over for future rental. If the personal belongings go unclaimed for a certain amount of time, the landlord would then have the right to sell the personal property and use the earnings for such costs as removal and storage.
It's important to inventory and take pictures of all personal property before removing it to a storage space. Remember, one persons junk is another persons treasure and you wouldn't want to run the risk of being accused of mishandling someones belongings should they come to claim them.
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