Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Washington

abandoned belongings

My husband and I let my sister come live with us. She was with us for a while. One day she up and left without telling us that she was leaving. She left all her personal belongings at our place. Including furniture, clothes, a piano etc... It's all being stored in our garage. We have not heard from her in a couple of weeks. We heard through the grape vine that she is in the state of Maryland. I considered selling or donating her stuff. Can I legally get rid of her abandoned belongings? I know that she will not be contacting us considering some of the things she's done while living in our home.


Asked on 8/09/05, 10:43 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Elizabeth Powell ELizabeth Powell PS Inc

Re: abandoned belongings

First question will be to determine whether she was actually your tenant or not. Out of an abundance of caution, you would do well to consider her as a tenant and treat her possessions as a landlord is required to treat a tenant's abandoned possessions.

The law you want to review is RCW 59.18.020 et seq., otherwise known as the Residential Landlord Tenant Act.

You should review 59.18.310 carefully. You might want to use the internet - and document your attempts - to find her so as to satisfy the requirement of giving her notice.

She may not be contacting you, but you have an obligation to at least attempt to contact her.

Good luck with this. Powell

Read more
Answered on 8/09/05, 12:32 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Landlord & Tenants questions and answers in Washington