If a tenant moves out or vacates the leased premises and leaves personal property items behind—whether an automobile, pots and pans, jewelry, or artwork—the landlord may be required to safely store the tenant’s abandoned property for some period of time after giving the tenant notice of the property that was abandoned and the right to pick up the property before the landlord may legally dispose of it and keep the proceeds of any sale of the items.

Under some state laws this time period begins when the landlord takes possession of the abandoned property and does not require the landlord to give the tenant notice of the abandoned property. And some states do not have a law (statute) on abandoned property—leaving the issue to be addressed by the terms of the lease agreement, or perhaps by previous court opinions that have addressed the issue (also known as case law or precedent).

The laws regarding a landlord’s obligation to safely store the tenant’s abandoned property for some period of time after giving the tenant notice vary from state to state, with the time period generally ranging from 5 days to 60 days. In some states the landlord may have a lien on such personal property items to the extent the tenant has a balance of unpaid rent due or the tenant caused damage to the leased premises in excess of any security deposit held by the landlord. And some lease agreements include a provision that defines the landlord’s and tenant’s rights and obligations regarding abandoned property.

The laws regarding a landlord’s obligation to safely store the tenant’s abandoned property for some period of time after giving the tenant notice are usually located in a state’s statutes but may also be included in city or municipal codes or ordinances.

In Maryland, when a tenant abandons personal property after moving out, the landlord is required to handle the items according to Maryland law. Specifically, Maryland law mandates that landlords must give the tenant notice and store the abandoned property for a certain period, which is generally 48 hours. If the tenant does not claim the property within that time, the landlord may dispose of it. However, if the property is valued at more than $300, the landlord must hold it for at least 30 days and publish a notice in a local newspaper before disposing of the items. The landlord may also have a lien on the abandoned property for unpaid rent or damages exceeding the security deposit. It is important for both landlords and tenants to review their lease agreements, as they may contain specific provisions regarding the handling of abandoned property that are consistent with Maryland law. Additionally, local city or municipal codes may have further regulations on this matter.