'Get into real estate and rent out your property,' they said. After all: the risks are low, and the profits are high! However, what happens when your renter deserts your rental? Plano property management companies and courts of law often manage disputes between investors and renters—and one of the greatest sources of contention surrounds possessions.
Keeping someone’s abandoned stuff can be a burden, and having it removed can be a headache and a half—but you can’t just throw it away, either. Perhaps you see something that you like, and you’re considering helping yourself; resist that urge at all costs. It’s your responsibility to ensure that these possessions remain safe, even if your renter has flown the coop.
Please note: This article is not legal counsel! When you need real-time assistance, reach out to RentHub Property Management or a skilled attorney.
How you decide to act will be determined by the reason for your resident's departure:
Before you get rid of anything and get the ball rolling on the eviction process, it’s important to know which actions are legally sanctioned and which ones aren’t. The last thing you want is to have legal action coming your way. If you're unsure about how to proceed, consult a lawyer and figure out how to start from there.
It would do you well to keep a record of all the abandoned possessions your renter left behind.
Now that you have a list of everything left behind, you have to carefully deal with certain items. When it comes to furniture and other valuable items, you’ll probably need to involve the authorities. Vehicles are a whole other class of property that you don't want to have to wrangle.
What if your renter decided they wanted to feel more at home, installing fixtures now part of the property? Unless your lease agreement clearly states what should be done about them, you might as well keep them. If they aren’t to your liking, you’re free to get rid of them.
At this stage, you're well within your rights to start looking for another renter. If you’re lucky enough to have someone that wants to move in, you’re allowed to empty the property to accommodate them. Just be sure to screen them thoroughly to avoid a repeat of your last experience!
It’s important to keep your previous resident's belongings in a safe place—and you’ll do yourself a favor by having an unbiased expert watch you move everything. When you reach this point, it's worth it to bring in a Plano property management company to see if they can assist with the process.
You can’t be expected to foot the bill for something that isn’t your fault.
Your renter is still a human being capable of logic and reason!
Your notice must be detailed and comprehensive, including the list of items, information about where they are located, and the cost of storage.
Once again, knowing the law will come in handy—giving you an idea of how long you can keep the stuff before getting rid of it. If you talk to an attorney or expert Plano property management partner, you can find out exactly what to do and when to do it.
From here, you can start following the process set out in your lease agreement with regards to nonpayment and lease termination.
No one signs up to have their renter disappear overnight—and if you’re not careful, you can easily feel overwhelmed by the repercussions thereof.
Take it easy, get some legal advice, and look for a new resident with the help of a professional Plano property management company who'll screen potential candidates on your behalf to avoid similar scenarios to what you're going through now. There’s no reason to bear the brunt on your own!
For more tips on protecting your rental property, get started with our free resource, Protecting Your Investment Property: A Guide!