How long do I have to wait until I can legally claim the items left behind in our roommate’s bedroom?
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How long do I have to wait until I can legally claim the items left behind in our roommate’s bedroom?
My husband and I’s friend and his fiancee moved in with us to help us out with rent. They are not on the lease but we told him there are to be no drugs in our home or drug using. Recently we have caught him doing drugs and they are leaving town. His fiancee told my husband that we could have all her belongings in the bedroom. How long legally do I have to wait to claim these items.
Asked on June 12, 2012 under Real Estate Law, North Carolina
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Under the laws of all states in this country, whether a person has abandoned articles depends upon the circumstances of each matter. In the situation you are writing about, I would write your former roommates a letter giving them thirty (30) days for them to retrieve their left behind possessions.
If the thirty (30) day time period comes and goes and if the items left behind are worth less than $300.00 then you can do whatever you wish with the items. If the items are worth more than $300.00 then you have the following options:
1. auction them off per code with proper notice;
2. take the items to an off site storage area and place them in the names of the former roomates with a lease at such a facility. Send the former roomates notice where their items are now located and their obligation to pay rent at this storage facility.
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