Author Topic: Getting rid of old roommates stuff. What's reasonable?  (Read 1921 times)

mozar

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Getting rid of old roommates stuff. What's reasonable?
« on: December 14, 2018, 09:17:58 AM »
I'm looking for advice on what to do with the stuff that an old tenant left behind. It's a mattress, a hammock, a lot of clothes in suitcases and a lot of kitchen stuff. The law in my state says that I have to give her a deadline. Then after that deadline I can dispose of her stuff. The deadline is December 15th. She doesn't want to come to my house herself (long story)  so she asked her friend to get her stuff and he flaked and disappeared. She herself is very flaky so I'm not surprised that she hasn't been able to get her stuff even though she moved out two months ago. I want her to get her stuff too. It will be annoying for me to drag all her stuff outside and call a disposal company. Although I wouldn't have to pay for it because I still have her security deposit.
She did randomly threaten to sue me, which is baseless. But she's rich so she could probably get a lawyer to say anything. My point is that she will probably throw a tantrum in my inbox if I throw her stuff away.Any suggestions? I want her to get her stuff. She says she wants her stuff. But she might never get it, while also calling me every day with a new excuse.
 

AccidentalMiser

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Re: Getting rid of old roommates stuff. What's reasonable?
« Reply #1 on: December 14, 2018, 09:25:02 AM »
Call your lawyer.

HipGnosis

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Re: Getting rid of old roommates stuff. What's reasonable?
« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2018, 09:54:44 AM »
Give her another deadline.   Might as well make it a week or two after new yrs - so she can't use 'the holidays' as an excuse.  Send her the 'bonus' deadline via certified mail if you can.
Go thru the stuff and see what could be donated (Goodwill, Salvation Army, churches, etc.) rather than pay to dispose.
See how much it is to rent a van for a day to dispose the stuff vs a disposal Co.
You could offer to take her stuff to an agreed location, for an agreed fee.

And, since she's rich AND you have her deposit - don't feel bad about any of it during or afterwards.
Block her calls and send her Emails to SPAM - but don't delete them for awhile, just in case.

Gronnie

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Re: Getting rid of old roommates stuff. What's reasonable?
« Reply #3 on: December 14, 2018, 09:57:44 AM »
If she's rich and doesn't want to do it herself, she can hire someone to come get her stuff for her. If she doesn't, not your problem. Just make sure to CYA and do things correctly.

mozar

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Re: Getting rid of old roommates stuff. What's reasonable?
« Reply #4 on: December 14, 2018, 10:26:39 AM »
I probably could rent a car and stuff it all in there. She won't give me her address so it will have to be via email. I'll try to get in contact with a lawyer this afternoon.

GuitarStv

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Re: Getting rid of old roommates stuff. What's reasonable?
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2018, 11:05:05 AM »
You gave a deadline.  Put the stuff in boxes and drag it to the curb on the date given.  If it's not picked up, then rent a van or call someone to dispose of it.

By all means though, give her a call or email on the day she is supposed to pick the stuff up.

simonsez

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Re: Getting rid of old roommates stuff. What's reasonable?
« Reply #6 on: December 14, 2018, 11:19:11 AM »
As long as it's well-documented and understood by her that Dec 15th is the deadline, I'd remain firm on that.  If you extend it, then it could be extended again and the deadline has no meaning.


frugaliknowit

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Re: Getting rid of old roommates stuff. What's reasonable?
« Reply #7 on: December 14, 2018, 01:38:52 PM »
Call her on the phone.  Keep calling until she picks up.  Remind her of the deadline.  Let her know it's going to the curb. 

There's no way it's worth her suing you.

Cassie

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Re: Getting rid of old roommates stuff. What's reasonable?
« Reply #8 on: December 14, 2018, 01:53:26 PM »
We had a situation like this years ago. Our lawyer gave us a date whereby we could get rid of it if she didn’t come. It got close but she took it. I would have disposed of it.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!