How to Sell a Former Tenant's Possessions
Being a landlord is a tricky proposition, especially in cases where you have to evict a tenant or when a tenant abandons personal property in the rental after moving out. The primary consideration for the landlord is consulting with state laws governing tenant and landlord responsibility for proper notification of the tenant regarding the return of the property in question or sale of the property. However, if the tenant fails to respond after a reasonable amount of time has passed, the landlord maintains the right to dispose or sell items left behind.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Evaluate the property in the unit. Some items, like clothing, shoes or personal-hygiene items, are not suitable for sale. In these cases, the landlord can contribute items to a local charity or simply throw them in a Dumpster, disposing of them. Higher-ticket items like television sets, gaming consoles, computers or personal electronics can be sold at the landlord's discretion. Decide which items are suitable for donation and sale and which items can be tossed out.
-
2
Select a venue for sale of the property in question. Landlords can place items for sale online or sell in a garage-style/auction format. The choice is up to the landlord on how to sell the property and the method of payment accepted. Once the property is sold, however, the landlord's job is not done.
-
-
3
Tally up the total sales of the abandoned property. Keep a record of the sale price, item and a reference to the original tenant who abandoned the item. In fact, it is wise to keep this information in the tenant's file, in addition to your own personal files. This comes in handy at tax time and in the event of a dispute with the tenant should he or she come back to claim abandoned property in the future.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Items over $300 have stricter rules for sale and notification of the tenant in most states.
Consult a property attorney before selling a tenant's belongings.
Make sure you are in compliance with all state laws regarding the sale and disposal of any personal property before selling it or disposing of it.
