Regardless of whether a tenant has moved out normally, has been evicted, or has decided to abandon your property, dealing with the mess left behind is always a hassle for the property owner. Although you expect it to be a smooth sailing experience, the reality is often cumbersome, and expensive.Once your tenant has left your property, before the next one can move in, you need to deal with maintenance, cleaning, and property left behind by the previous tenant.
Dealing with abandoned personal property
If your tenant has been careful in moving out all of their belongings, you will not be facing too much trouble in terms of getting rid of a few things here and there. However, if your tenant has abandoned a lot of their stuff, it is up to the property owner to carefully dispose of, store or return the items, making it a tedious and lengthy process before the next rental can move in. As each thing falls into a different category, there are different ways to deal with each object of interest.
Handling the Garbage
Just as the name suggests, dispose of it properly, without worrying about any consequences as perishables and other rotting trash left behind by your tenant is not a major concern of yours.
Handling Fixtures
Your tenant might choose to add some more permanent features to your property be it coat hangers, shelves or a new lighting setup. In this regard, if they have not removed them before leaving, they automatically become a part of your property. Hence, if you wish to remove them, you may do so using the money from the security deposit. Otherwise, just leave it on if you think it does not bring down the overall quality or aesthetic of your home.
Handling Automobiles
Motor vehicles are a different class of personal property, and so, need to deal with special care in the case that your previous tenant decides to leave it behind as well. Therefore, your responsibility is to contact local authorities and make arrangements to have it towed away. During the process, the police will ask for the make, model, and location of the vehicle and arrange things accordingly.
Handling Furniture
There is a due process when dealing with furniture, and it is the most likely thing to be left behind. Moreover, if the value of the furniture is beyond what you might normally expect, you will have to get the local government involved. Other than that, you will simply need to get a log of all the furniture, safely store it somewhere for a brief period, and then you are free to do as you wish if it still unclaimed by your previous tenant. In which case, you are allowed to sell, donate, or dump all of it. Handling the leftovers of tenants is not a fun task, and so planning your contact early around to include clauses about what needs to be done with leftover property can save you time and money before the next tenant comes in.
