No, the landlord does not get to keep the tenant’s personal items. At the end of an eviction case, when the sheriff delivers the completed writ of possession to the landlord, the tenant’s personal items should be carried out to the sidewalk and photographed.

The landlord should not keep any of the tenant’s personal items, no matter how far behind the tenant was in the payment of rent. No landlord wants to be falsely accused of stealing a tenants personal items, and believe it or not, it does happen. This is where a Pinellas County Eviction Lawyer can help.

To protect itself, a residential landlord should have the following language inserted into its lease forms:

BY SIGNING THIS RENTAL AGREEMENT, THE TENANT AGREES THAT UPON SURRENDER, ABANDONMENT, OR RECOVERY OF POSSESSION OF THE DWELLING UNIT DUE TO THE DEATH OF THE LAST REMAINING TENANT, AS PROVIDED BY CHAPTER 83, FLORIDA STATUTES, THE LANDLORD SHALL NOT BE LIABLE OR RESPONSIBLE FOR STORAGE OR DISPOSITION OF THE TENANT’S PERSONAL PROPERTY.

Need help? Let Pinellas County Eviction Lawyer Daniel Kortenhaus assist you. Contact today