How long should her stuff stay here for?

@SilPhil (267)
Australia
March 31, 2007 10:08am CST
Thanks to those of you who responded to my previous discussion about kicking the boarder out of my house. She's almost gone now, but now there is another problem. See last weekend she left with some of her stuff. She took things like her clothes, toiletries, you know thinggs you use everyday. However all her furniture and things are still here. I've tried to contact her to see when she'll get the rest of the stuff, but she's not answering my messages or my calls. So anyway, we didn't get into the techinical details about her moving out. I sort of figured we'd hire a trailer and help her move and it wouldn't be an issue. Given that her stuff is stillt aking up our spare room, do you think its fair for us to still expect her to pay board? I know she isn't using our food/water stuff like that, but we still do not have access to the room, so I figure she's still liable. Also, if she doesn't respond to my messages and things, how long do you think I have to keep her stuff before I can chuck it out/give it away or whatever? I don't mean to sound horrible, but she has made a real mess (I admit, I snooped). There are food scraps and things like that all through the room. But I can't clean it because all her stuff is still there. I don't want ants and mice and things through the house so it needs to be cleaned. Obviously the ideal situation is for her to actually talk to me, but if that fails, then what??
1 person likes this
2 responses
eden32
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
31 Mar 07
You really need to check local laws about tenants property. It varies greatly state to state and some places are very strict about it. Here in Massachusetts you can not touch the stuff for at least 30 days after they move out, but then you have to "securely" store their stuff for a year if I remember correctly. Our laws are very much in favor of the tenant. But by the same token, you could continue to charge her rent for now and then you could bill her for the storage if it were here. And btw, the penalties for not following these laws here are pretty stiff. You could wind up paying her 3xs the amount her property was worth if you tossed it before you should and she'd of course be able to pad the value because it'd be your word against hers.
2 people like this
desertdarlene
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
31 Mar 07
First, I would say to check into some legal advice. If you throw it out too soon, you may be liable for the costs. I believe you have to make a reasonable number of attempts to contact her about it. Also, leave whatever message you can that says you are going to get rid of the items if she doesn't respond in so many days. It's best to have it in writing. Again, I would make sure that you follow the law as I have seen several lawsuits regarding items disposed of.
1 person likes this