Every experienced Lakewood property management agent has had to deal with an abandoned rental at some point. Aside from the bothersome details of preparing, then showing the rental, the legal ramifications surrounding rental property abandonment must also be addressed. Ignoring them in favor of relisting as quickly as possible is only asking for trouble.
The Legalities of Abandoned Rentals
Professional property management in Lakewood requires an astonishingly wide range of knowledge. On the list of things a good property manager must know are the steps to follow in order to legally handle an abandoned rental.
- Provide due notice before you go in. It matters not at all to the law whether you are positive your ex-resident is gone for good. You must still provide a written notice of your intent to enter the rental property, giving them a reasonable amount of time to respond.
- What to take when you go in: When you finally enter, take an apparatus to video the condition of the abandoned apartment, as well as a witness.
- Follow the letter of the law. After you see the condition of the rental, you may opt to store any items you found in the abandoned rental. You may also decide to start eviction proceedings. Your best course of action is to hire an attorney to handle this for you, but if you choose to follow through yourself, research the current laws thoroughly. In either case, resign yourself to the factual idea that the process will take much longer than you would like it to.