This is in the state of NY
Me and my wife are on the lease. We have 1 other roommate currently living there who is normal and have no problems with who I will refer to as Roommate #1.
The other roommate who I will refer to as Roommate #2 is the one who did not pay his share of the utilities for 2 months already. we agreed he will move out by April 1st. He did not pay any utilities for 2 months, we kept his deposit as the last months rent. I emailed him asking for the utilities to be payed and in response he emailed me back threatening he will no longer move out and I will have to evict him which will take 6 months.
For the most part he already moved all his stuff, he only left an empty dresser, table, lamp, shelf, in the room and a huge mess of old pennies, beer cans, and dirt. He was never on any of the bills or any lease agreement. He never got any mail to the house. He hasn't been here for the past 2 weeks. However previously he did say he would take the rest of the stuff by march 25th.
However he did not return the keys and he is a 40yr old drunk which worries me that he may try to steal something or vandalize the property.
Can I change the locks and send a Notice to Former Tenant of Right to Reclaim Abandoned Personal Property to his previous address?
I already found a new tenant for the room who is set to move in on April 1st.
Any advice would be much appreciated. Can I claim the remaining property as collateral for the unpaid utilities? Or is it best to just send him the notice of abandoned property and after 15 days (I believe thats the time period he has to reclaim the property) claim it or sell it, or just trash it? Its old worthless furniture to be honest.
PS: Our lease expires on Sept 1st if that makes any difference.

