Tenant not responding to emails (lease, rental, personal property, documentation)
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So the tenant I had vacated my rental by sending me an email without sending any kind of 30 day notice. He left all kinds of his belongings and furniture. I responded to his email asking if he is planning on coming back and picking up his items. After couple days he has not responded. So I sent him another email informing of the 21 day CA law and he still has not responded to my email. I know the correct thing is to send him a certified mail but I do not know where the guy moved too. I want to make sure this guy doesn't sue me because I got rid of his stuff. He also didn't leave the keys or garage door opener.
Send him a return receipt certified letter to his last known address which in this case would be the unit he rented from you. When it's not picked up and is returned to you by USPS, retain it unopened in case needed.
This link will explain exactly what you need to include in the letter:
Also look up the CA law on abandonment of the unit/property. Since his belongings are still there and the keys haven't been returned, he's still legally your tenant and liable for rent and if there is anything of value in the unit you may be entitled to sell same in due course to recoup your losses.
Thanks for the info! That's the letter I am sending to him. Also, do I need to send a lease termination letter to cover my a$$ or it should be ok since it is obvious they have left?
Be careful because I had similar and was contacted by a lawyer months later with a claim I had illegally disposed of tenant property...
Thankfully, I had not and everything was in storage... and I mean everything from furniture to the wastepaper basket...
I knew to properly dispose of the items would have required a sale and publishing... something I had no time for.
Anyway... I told the lawyer I would waive all storage fees and have the items delivered anywhere in the city within 24 hours... the silence was priceless.
What I did was fill my 20' enclosed car trailer with the contents... so moving was easy.
When I arrived, my former tenants started to cherry pick... I said their lawyer required all belonging returned... I unloaded, took pictures and was on my way... avoided a $5,000 claim!!!
Vacant unit is rent lost forever...
I would take posession, store items and get the place rented ASAP keeping documentation of all correspondence.
Thanks for the info! That's the letter I am sending to him. Also, do I need to send a lease termination letter to cover my a$$ or it should be ok since it is obvious they have left?
Suggest you seek a legal opinion. This is something you need to do by the book so it doesn't come back to bite you.
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