Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Georgia

If a tenant/roommate moves out, they knew for several weeks they were moving, leaves any personal property behind and turns in the keys, doesn't the rentor have the right to discard anything left behind? We are talking about items that total roughly $20.00. They had ample time to get everything moved out before turning in the keys. Three days later they said they left some things behind. The tenants were told the items would be left on a front porch and then they later said they didn't pick them up. I was gone so I didn't see who picked up the items and have no proof that they didn't. It has always been my understanding that once someone moves out, anything left behind could be discarded. The police tell me that is not true. Please advise.


Asked on 8/23/11, 5:17 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Glen Ashman Ashman Law Office also dba Glen Ashman Attorney

You have no legal right to dispose of someone else's property or move it without a court order. Doing either is a theft or criminal damage to property and you can go to jail for it.

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Answered on 8/24/11, 6:48 pm


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