Tenant Abandoned the Property

[Jeremy Anan]

Hello BP - 

We have a tenant in a unit in Baltimore City who has been giving us some headache.

- The guy works for Amazon in Baltimore. He was working at Amazon New York and transferred to Baltimore. He moved in on February 2020 on a one year lease. He has been paying on time since.

- On July 21 he texted me the following: "Hello, I need to know my option on breaking our lease agreement. I have a family emergency up in New York and I have to move back. My job transferred me back to NY and I am to start over there on August 2nd. Can August be the last month that I stay here?"

- I replied to him: "We can work something out. 1-You will be responsible for the rent until a new tenant is found. 2- We can start advertising the unit as soon as Monday Aug 10. 3- If a new tenant moves in by Sep 1st, the new tenant will take over the rent payment."

- He responded: "Hopefully we can find someone soon"

- After that, the drama started. On Aug 1, no rent payment, no call, our texts are no longer returned.

- I posted a notice to inspect the unit. The unit is in very good condition. His bed is still there, the fridge is empty, no clothes/shoes at all, big trash bag on the kitchen floor, some kitchen utensils.

- Since mid August, we've been inspecting the unit every other week. He most likely hasn't been here since. We can tell by the multiple inspection notices on the door.

- On Aug 29, I spoke to his "emergency contact - from the application-". She said he wasn't dead, and that she saw him a week ago.

- The next morning, Aug 30, he texted me: "Hello Jeremy". That was it. Nothing since.

- Sep 1, no rent payment obviously.

- He hasn't disconnected utilities yet.

- For the heck of it, we file a failure to pay rent, the hearing has been scheduled for January 4 2021, yep Jan 4 of next year.

Just reaching out to see if there is anything we can do to take possession of the property back!

Thanks BP

[Ozzy Sirimsi]

It looks like he is already moved out but holding the unit for some reason ( some tenants do for some reason)  Send him a letter to sign saying he left the apartment and no longer living there and give him money for signing. 

E-sign should work with authorization agreement, and give him a deadline for the money.

It might work. If he signs, you can rent the unit again otherwise until February you will be losing money.