Store Tenants Belongings?

[Paul A.]

Hello,

I non renewed with a tenant who has moved out. They didn't pay and left the place a mess, with plenty of belongings like beds, clothes, bikes, etc. 

I believe NYS law is 15 days to keep the things, but I have also read 30 days is standard. 

i want to get the property cleaned up and start working on it... What is the best thing to do with all the stuff? Put it in a storage? The garage? Or should it remain in the residence and we are at a standstill until the set amount of days? 

Thanks!

[Jo Bradley]

I move everything to a garage, if I one is available and it is able to be secured. Then I get a written estimate for a local storage locker with a similar amount of square feet of storage because in my state the tenant must pay the reasonable costs of storage before taking possession of the personal property.

It might take longer than 15 days because the notice may be the time they have to respond, but they may have an additional amount of time to pay.  In my state, the notice must give the tenant at least 14 days to make a claim for the property. If they make a claim within that time, they have 5 additional days to pay me the storage costs. Once they do, I must return the property within 3 days.  The notice must also state whether the landlord believes the property to be worth more or less than $2,000.00. If it worth more than $2,000 there is more involved, including selling the property and turning the proceeds over to the state as unclaimed property. I have never had abandoned property over $2,000. 

I send the notice to the tenant at his new address, or last known address if the new address is unknown. I send it with USPS proof of delivery but no required signature verification. I include a generalized listing of items such as " Property including, but not limited to: clothing, toys, cookware, and other items."