Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Virginia

Tenant Fled with Rent and Keys

My husband and I leased our basement furnished for 6 months to a neighbor's ex and didn't charge a security deposit. Rent is due on the 15th of each month. Now 4 months later, he's disappeared, didn't pay the rent and took almost all his possessions, along with our keys. He's not returning my calls and his phone goes directly to voicemail so I'm unable to speak with him. Without our consent, he left some stuff in our backyard which we want removed. He still has some stuff in our basement. During his absence child support documents were posted to our front door and we think this might be the reason he disappeared. His ex said he might be at his mother's in Lancaster, VA, about 2 1/2 hours away from us. His ex wants nothing to do with him nor his relatives. However, she gave us his mother's name and address. What can we do?


Asked on 3/19/09, 12:03 am

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

Re: Tenant Fled with Rent and Keys

You might wish to hold onto anything of value for a while belonging to the absconder which might be used as a bargaining chip for the unpaid rent in case he turns up wih a request to retrieve his property.

But, if six or more months pass with no word from the deadbeat, then you'll probably want to make a decision to keep for yourself whatever he left that you might be able to use and dispose of the rest.

And, then try to forget about it and move on. (And, no, I see no point in calling the mother's home in Lancaster.)

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Answered on 3/19/09, 9:26 pm


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