Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Virginia

Left-behind (abandoned?) belongings

I recently moved into a home I am renting. The lease states ''Landlord leases to Tenant, and Tenant rents from Landlord, the premises located at: xxxxxxx.'' Since it says ''premises'', and not house, home, etc., I believe that shows that I am also renting all structures and improvements. In the garage are some belongings of one of his employees, who apparently is returning home to Belarus and leaving these belongings in ''storage'' in the garage on the property (indefinitely) I hold a lease to. Also in the garage is scrap metal and a large hammer device formerly used in the property owners business as a blacksmith. I was lead to believe (verbally) when I signed the lease that these items would be removed before I moved in. Now, there is some debate as to what will actually be removed, and when it will happen. What rights do I have to dispose of, or require the removal of, said property?


Asked on 4/12/07, 10:12 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Left-behind (abandoned?) belongings

I would say that you have no such rights to dispose of these items of personal property on your own without the landlord's specific approval. You may have, nevertheless, a basis to bring an action for a breach of promise(to have items removed) that was made in connection with the lease agreement in the event that the landlord continues to fail to have the items removed (in accord with the alleged promise).

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Answered on 4/12/07, 12:06 pm


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