Can I give away my former roommate’s abandoned belongings if she wasn’t on the lease?
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Can I give away my former roommate’s abandoned belongings if she wasn’t on the lease?
I live in a 3 bedroom townhouse. I signed the lease for the townhouse with 2 friends – all 3 of us on the lease. 1 of our roommates couldn’t afford rent anymore and had a friend move into their room with them to split the rent. This month the lease was up and both girls moved out. The 1 that wasn’t on the lease still has her stuff in the garage and ignores our calls and texts as well as our offers to take it to her. Can we give it away? She still has a key to get into the apartment. Can I donate her stuff?
Asked on December 20, 2011 under Real Estate Law, California
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
If the former roommate for the unit that you are occupying has left behind her belongings, I would write her a letter seeking a set time for her to pick up the belongings. Keep a copy of the letter for future use and need.
If the belongings are worth less than $300.00, you can dispose of the items any way you desire. If worth more, I suggest that you contact some relative of your former roommate and drop off the items at that person's home and get a receipt from that person that the items have been placed there. The other option is to place the items in a storage facility off site in the name of the former roommate. When done, advise her where the items are in writing. If she does not pay the monthly rental, the facility will auction off the items to pay the unpaid rent.
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