ex Tenant left property behind

We had a difficult situation with two tenants recently. We rented apartment to two tenants in August 2007. (they both worked together and as far as we were aware they were friends). The apartment was leased for one year. One tenant (A) was not paying his way and the other tenant (B) was paying for rent and all the bills. Tenant (B) decided to cut his losses and gave us a week's notice recently. He voluntarily forfeited the deposit to help pay for the damage done to the apartment and the filty condition it was in. Tenant (B) said he was staying away from the apartment for some time before he gave us notice.

Tenant (A) appears to have a drink problem and when Tenant (B) told him he was leaving he threatened to throw himself over the balcony. He didn't do that but he did some damage to himself and was hospitalised for a number of days. He was discharged a week ago.

Our problem is that the apartment is now rented again and Tenant (A) things are still in it. We packed everything into bags and put them into a small storage area in the apartment. However the new tenants need the space. We have been in contact with Tenant (A) a number of times and asked him to arrange to collect his things as we cannot guarantee their safety. He made a couple of arrangements to collect them which he has not honoured and we sat in last night waiting for him to ring to say he was on his way to collect but he made no contact. We are uncertain what to do about them.

Any advice would be welcome.

If Tenant (A) has been contacted and has agreed to collect his things which he then has not followed up on then surely you are free to bin them? Or you could charge him for storage and inform him that he will be charged at the going daily rate?

truthseeker said:

If Tenant (A) has been contacted and has agreed to collect his things which he then has not followed up on then surely you are free to bin them? Or you could charge him for storage and inform him that he will be charged at the going daily rate?

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I really don't think charging tenant (A),given his histrory, with daily storage rates is the best way to handle the situation.
CLearly tenant (A) has bigger problems.

It's possible he may not give a dam about his stuff at the present.

ANd there is one wayt to find out.
What I would do is make one last arrangement with tenant (A) and make it clear that if he doesn't arrive then you will be dumping his stuff.

If he actually wants his stuff back then he will turn up.

If he doesn't really care about his stuff then he may not turn up in which case you dump it as promised.

If Tenant B is or was friends with Tenant A, maybe the best solution would be to get him involved. He might be concerned enough to help Tenant A reclaim his goods, or even look after them himself. It sounds like TA maybe has too many problems to care about themselves, never mind their possessions.

Thank you for your replies. We did ask Tenant (B) to remove (A)s things as we believed they would be in contact with each other, but he refused and said he was advised not to.

We want to be careful and thoughtful towards (A) but we have to remove his things shortly. We think we will send him a text expressing disappointment that he didn't make contact last night and giving him until Sunday next to remove his things, or they will be dumped.

If (A) is responsive to texts could you ask him for an address where the stuff you be delivered to (by you), family or friends etc? That way you are being considerate, by not dumping his stuff if he is not in a state to collect it.

If (A) is responsive to texts could you ask him for an address where the stuff you be delivered to (by you), family or friends etc? That way you are being considerate, by not dumping his stuff if he is not in a state to collect it.

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This is probably the most charitable option. Do you know where (A) is living now?

Tell him that if he doesnt come to collect his stuff that you are going to chuck it all over the balcony! That might encourage him to geta move on.

If its not too bulky could you store it in your attic for a while. Sounds as if he has serious health issues at present and is probably not capable of organising the collection and might well not have anywhere to store them. Quite sad really. I know its all very well for me to make recommendations not having had to deal with his problems but he might need a bit of leeway just for the moment.

Do you know what is in his stuff ? Is it possible you could dump the bulky stuff (i.e. clothes) and keep the rest in one box in case he comes back ?

Or maybe the other tenant could give you his family's contact details.

Tenant (A) collected his things this morning so the text message worked advising him he had until this evening to collect his things or they would be dumped.

Thanks a mill for all your advice.