Broken Lease

[Jeanne J.]

I just experienced my 1st broken lease!  The tenant left 5 months early, did not pay the last month's rent or the Early Termination Fee.  To make matters worse he left a bunch of crap in the house.  He even turned to power off with food in the fridge about a week before turning over the keys

Firstly, how do I get rid of the items he left behind?

Secondly, what recourse can I take against him. 

[Andrew Syrios]

it depends on your state but there should be a provision for abandoned properties. In Missouri, if it appears the unit is abandoned and you need to post notice and wait 10 days to get possession back. Check with a lawyer for your state's laws. 

The tenant is still responsible for the lease and the damages (minus the deposit). So fix up the unit and get it released, then add up your costs and lost rent (again check with an attorney about any state specific restrictions) and then send that bill to collections. It will likely be a lost cause, but not always. The most important thing is to get the property fixed up and rerented ASAP