How long to I have to hold tangible property before it's deemed abandoned?

I am a lawyer in CT and practice in this area of the law.  If you are not going to sue this company and you have their last known address, you need to write  a letter to the comnpany and send it certified mail asking them to collect their belongings or it will be sold at an auction.  I would wait about 4 weeks from the date of your letter and place an article in the local newspaper advertising the property for sale at an auction.  the contractors are then on notice of the sale and have an opportunity to obtain their belongings.  there is no set time that you have to give.  rather, you need to give a "reasonable" period of time.  Between the date of the publication in the paper your should give 2 weeks.  this should be sufficient time to avoid you from facing any exposure fromt he contractor.