What are the laws regarding the abandonment of rental property?
In the state of California, laws surrounding the abandonment of rental property are strict. A tenant is deemed to have abandoned the rental property when they have moved out without notifying the landlord, went more than three days without paying rent, or are otherwise not living in the rental property. When a tenant is deemed to have abandoned the rental property, the landlord is required to take certain steps. First, they must make a reasonable attempt to contact the tenant. If the landlord is unable to contact the tenant after two attempts made in good faith, they may assume that the tenant has abandoned the rental property. Once the tenant has been deemed to have abandoned the rental property, the landlord is allowed to take possession of the rental property and any personal property left in it. The landlord is required to store the tenant’s belongings for a minimum of 18 days and must post a notice on the door of the rental property listing the items being held. If the tenant does not come to claim their belongings within 18 days, the landlord may dispose of the items or keep them for their own use. Finally, the landlord must use the security deposit to cover any unpaid rent and damages to the property. If the security deposit does not cover the costs, the landlord may take the tenant to court to pursue payment.
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