Tennessee law what to do when a tenant abandons a rental property?

by **zacchaeus21** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:05 am

I rented my rental unit ti 3 people. a husband and wife and the wifes girlfriend. after a month the roomate moved out then a month later the wife moved out. then bout another month later I went to collect rent and the husband had moved out and moved to kentucky. Everything was left in the house and I have no address on any of them. I moved everything out myselft and listed the property to rent. Its been over a week and havent heard from anyone. I have the items that were left and found out some of the items were from a rent to own store. My question is do I return the items to the store or keep them or what? I could sue the tenents for the remainder of the lease but if they have nothing then I will get nothing. so what do I do?

by **siwili** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:08 am

Ya call the store to come claim their property..take photo's of all the stuff that's trash..then trash it.You are required to keep any thing of value for in some states as long as 90 days..check your local laws on how long your required to hold the property..but then it's yours to do with what ever you please...Sounds like a yard sales in your future.

by **emek** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:14 am

Well, you could call the rent-to-own store and tell them the situation. If the people have skipped out on their payments like they have with the rent, then the store can come along and repo their belongings.

I would put an ad out in the newspaper saying that you're holding these items for 30 days and then after that selling them at auction.

EDIT: You can't just keep the items that the rent-to-own store owns, though. That's THEIR property, not the tenants', so you can't keep their property as compensation for money that the tenant owes you.

by **denys** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:27 am

You really need to go to a landlord/tenant court in your local county to see what they require.

But yeah, call the rent to own place, tell them about the stuff, let them deal with that. Heck the guys there can probably give you specific advice on what they do.

by **choviohoya** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:33 am

Yes you need to find out your laws ( a lawyer or call to the district court) but usually 30 days is all you have to hold them for and you send them a certified letter to their last known address or forwarding address kept proof you sent it.
as far as the rental property not your responsibility but you could call and have them pick it up.

I think you have to file in district court to gain possession of your rental legally or the tenant could show up later ( say he is in the hospital ) and then you did an illegal eviction which will cost you money ! You would owe him double rent/deposit back possibly and he could sue in small claims court for all his stuff at market value. If you do not know how to file this a lawyer could help or ask at district court and look up online.

Besides suing to protect yourself- you also would be owed money and that would be granted to you in a judgment. Maybe the people have no money now- if they get some later you could go after it. You are right it is hard to get money from a turnip but you never know?

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