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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    2

    Default Ex-roommates stuff in my house

    I was forced to kick out my roommate recently for non-payment of rent and utilities, she was 3 months behind. Since we are both on the lease I was forced to cover her rent for the last 3 months and this is my grounds for kicking her out, besides that she was just a terribly disrespectful roommate in many aspects. She is extremely upset at me for kicking her out and I don't anticipate getting her stuff out to be easy. I have not yet removed her from the lease, but I don't anticipate any problems with that since she is so far behind on rent and didn't pay any deposit. I am in Washington state.
    Questions:
    1. What length of time is reasonable for her to get her stuff out? Is there any action I can take if she doesn't get it out timely?
    2. I'm not interested in keeping any of her things, however I see the possibility to sell some of the items to settle her debt with me... can I do that?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Ex-roommates stuff in my house

    You seem to have "kicked her out" informally, and apparently she continues to be on the lease with the landlord - so she is apparently still a tenant and, whomever is paying the rent, would be entitled to keep her belongings in the apartment and even to live there. You can't steal her belongings and sell them, no.

    When is your lease up?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Ex-roommates stuff in my house

    There are 9 months left on the lease, I am able to cover expences without her so no problem there. The deal is that she is 3 months behind on rent and has never paid utilities or anything else at this place, including providing herself with food, personal products, etc... (we rented another place together before moving to this location 3 months ago, at that point she had never been late on rent). I had tried to get her to be more self-sufficient and responcible by sitting down and talking to her, then when that didn't work I just flat out cut her off from my food, personal products, internet, basically everything she had been using and not paying for. She in turn got really mad at me and became very hostile, at that point I told her to leave right now and not to come back. She is being removed from the lease and I'm sure the landlord will agree with me and be glad to have this tenant out as the neighbors have complained about her. She took most of her clothes, her important sentimental stuff, and nothing else although she has had the opportunity to do so.
    My question is how long do I have to store her stuff? Can I move it to another location (like with her family)? She owes me 3 months in rent, can I settle that debt by selling some of her unclaimed items if she doesn't come back for it, or am I indefinately required to hold it until she finally decides to come back for it? I realize that I don't have a right to her things, but I want all of it out sooner than later.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Ex-roommates stuff in my house

    In terms of disposition, you can look at your state's laws governing the disposition of lost and abandoned property. If it's not that big a deal to do, and her family is willing to accept the stuff, I personally would drop it off with them.

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