I have a rough situation. If this isn't the right forum for it let me know. Here goes. I am a homeowner. My ex-roommate was in the process of moving out and has taken about half of his stuff, still has a key and owes me about $400 in past rent (so far). I haven't heard from him in weeks, he won't respond to text or calls (then again he barely pays that bill), I've reached out to him and his girlfriend on Facebook (no response), called his work and left messages, I've even called his mother and she said it's between us, which it is, but that she'd let him know I'm trying to reach him if she sees him.

This is where it gets really fun. I don't have a signed agreement with him (my sister's now EX boyfriend, boy friend at the time so I thought he was a stand up guy) for the amount due to me. I also don't know what I'm legally required to do with the stuff he's left. I don't have a forwarding address so I don't have a place to send a letter telling him to take care of this situation. Am I obligated to keep his stuff at my house for a specific amount of time? Am I allowed to sell any of it or toss it to try and recoup the money I haven't been paid? As much as I don't have a way to prove that he owes me money, he has no way (other than a cell phone bill) to prove he actually even lived at my house. That's why I really am at a loss to what I'm legally allowed/obligated to do.

Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope!