How long must I hold onto a former occupant’s belongings?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
How long must I hold onto a former occupant’s belongings?
I had my roommate’s daughter and 1 of her friends living with us rent free. They left over a month ago and left some of their things here. How long do I have to wait before I can dispose of their belongings?
Asked on March 13, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Massachusetts
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
I would write the former tenants a letter stating the need to get their belongings left behind by a certain date. Keep a copy of the letter for future use and need. If the date to pick up the belongings comes and goes without the items being picked up, you can dispose of the items any way you wish if you believe that collectively they are worth less than $300.
If you believe they are worth more than $300, I would place them in an offsite rental facility under the names of the owners as the renters. I would then send them a copy of the lease and their need to pay on it. If they fail to do so, then the offsite storage facility will auction off the items to help pay for rent not paid.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.