What are my righs if my leasing office wrongfully removed my property from the apartment while I was out of town?
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What are my righs if my leasing office wrongfully removed my property from the apartment while I was out of town?
I returned to remove my things which were already packed and boxed up. when I entered the apartment, all my things were gone. I contacted my roommate who had already moved out; she informed me that she turned in her key to the office and told them she was coming back to finish cleaning. I still had my key which was issued to me by the office when I moved in. The office manager informed me that they had trashed my thing because they thought we had both moved out already which is hard to believe. I was not on the lease but they knew I was living there.
Asked on May 30, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Maryland
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
A landlord is not allowed to immediately simply throw out the belongings of its tenants (or its tenants' guests) when the tenancy is terminated and they move out unless--
1) There was a clear expression that the property was abandoned; or
2) The lease or some other agreement with the tenants specifically stated that any property left upon termination of tenacy would be considered to be abandoned.
In this case, it appears the landlord was negligent in throwing out your belongings, since you do not state that was either any statement to the landlord that the property was abandoned or any agreement providing that it would be considered to be abandoned.
You therefore should be able to sue the landlord (possibly in small claims court, where you could act as your own attorney) for the value of the goods they dispossed of.
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