When tenants leave your property, and they also leave their things behind, it is your responsibility as the landlord to take care of these items. You want the place ready to be occupied by the next tenant to give you a steady flow of income, so it’s essential to clean the space as soon as possible. Here are some tips on how to do that.
Store personal property
In Missouri, unless you have a lease agreement clearly stating that you can get rid of the things left behind by tenants or they leave a letter saying that they will not return to get their items, you must follow a due process. Check with your local state regarding the requirements.
In most states, you will generally be required to keep any items for a certain period, giving the tenants enough time to recover their items. You will also be asked to get in touch with them, letting them know about what they left behind, the time when they can get them, and what will happen if they fail to pick them up by the said time. You may keep them in your own storage, or if you rent storage, you can be reimbursed the cost by the tenants once they collect their things, or from the sale of the items if you end up selling them.
Throw trash away
Do an overall check on the property to see its condition. If there is trash inside the house, as well as items that can spoil or perish, you can get rid of them. Some tenants will clean the place but leave junk outside the house. As the landlord, you need to take care of the junk disposal immediately.
If you do not have it removed right away, neighbors may complain to the authorities. Not only will you be asked to dispose of it, but you may also need to pay fines. Consider hiring Evergreen Junk Removalin St Louis to help with the trash disposal. They will segregate the junk properly, donate recyclable materials to the right organizations, and safely dispose of the remaining trash.
While you have the option to do it yourself, hiring the experts will be a more convenient option. You don’t have to do the lifting on your own. Plus, there is no need for you to hire a truck and pay for the landfill.
Report left vehicles
If the tenants left their vehicle behind, contact the police and let them know about the situation. They will ask you specific things like the make and model of the car, the license number, and the location where it is parked. If they conclude that it’s abandoned, they will take care of towing it away.
Sell unclaimed items
If things remain unclaimed, you have the option to donate or sell them. In case you end up selling them, part of the sale can go to the money you spent on the storage and removal, and even rent not paid by the tenants. Your local state may also have its law as to where the remaining sale proceeds go.
To prevent this from happening, screen your tenants properly to have a better chance of having responsible ones. Make sure to include information on what to do with abandoned items in your lease agreement too.
