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 Pennsylvania, the handling of a tenant's abandoned property is governed by the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951. According to this act, when a tenant vacates the premises and leaves personal property behind, the landlord must store the property for a period of time and make an attempt to notify the tenant. The law requires the landlord to send a notice to the tenant's last known address, informing them of the abandoned property and giving them 10 days (if the notice is hand-delivered) or 30 days (if the notice is mailed) to claim their belongings. If the tenant fails to respond within the specified time frame, the landlord may dispose of the property. If the abandoned property has value, the landlord may sell it and apply the proceeds to any outstanding rent or damages, provided they have first given proper notice to the tenant. Lease agreements may also include specific provisions regarding abandoned property, but these provisions must comply with state law. It's important for landlords to follow these legal requirements to avoid potential liability for improperly handling a tenant's abandoned property.