Tenant unpaid rent
Back in February I had 2 tenants living in my rental property on a month to month lease with the understanding each would pay half the rent and utilities a piece, that if either left they would be required to give a notice to such effect. One of my tenants left without such notice and have left many of their belongings in the rental property and have not come back to claim such property since the first of February.
Since I have no contact information and no known residence of where they live now, the courts will not let me execute a writ or possession or warrant of debt for unpaid rent, because there is no known address to serve court papers to. Can I as the landlord now claim the property left behind as my own legally, or what course of action do I have to dispose of the processions that were left behind?
Re: Tenant unpaid rent
Given the fact that the other tenant(roommate?)apparently remains on the rented premeises and the fact that you’ve haven’t clarified what the relationship of this person might be
with the one who has absconded, nor what, if any claim, this tenant might make with respect to this property, I would say that it’s somewhat premature to make any judgment as to whether you yourself could claim ownership of this property at this juncture without further clarification of the issues which I’ve mentioned.
Michael E. Hendrickson
Attorney & Counsellor at Law
211 North Union Street Suite 100
Alexandria, 22314