California

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Abandonment of Personal Property in the Rental

Provided by the State of California
CONSUMER AFFAIRS and ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION

ABANDONED RENTAL UNIT

There are some occasions when a tenant will leave the rental unit without paying rent and without taking belongings. 

If the rent goes unpaid and you think that the rental has been abandoned, you may enter the unit and proceed to clean up. Inspect the premises to determine whether or not the property has been abandoned: 

1. Is the refrigerator empty or has most of the food spoiled? 
2. Has electricity and telephone service been cut off? 
3. Click hereCheck the closets and see if there is clothing left behind.

If the landlord determines that the unit has been abandoned, he/she may then take possession and proceed to prepare it for rerenting. The landlord is advised to follow the formal procedure outlined in Civil Code 1951.3 which requires waiting 14 days and then notifying the tenant of the suspected abandonment.


A copy of Notice of Belief of Abandonment is provided below. For how to deal with property left in a rental unit, please refer to Abandoned Personal Property.