If a tenant moves out or vacates the leased premises and leaves personal property items behind—whether an automobile, pots and pans, jewelry, or artwork—the landlord may be required to safely store the tenant’s abandoned property for some period of time after giving the tenant notice of the property that was abandoned and the right to pick up the property before the landlord may legally dispose of it and keep the proceeds of any sale of the items.

Under some state laws this time period begins when the landlord takes possession of the abandoned property and does not require the landlord to give the tenant notice of the abandoned property. And some states do not have a law (statute) on abandoned property—leaving the issue to be addressed by the terms of the lease agreement, or perhaps by previous court opinions that have addressed the issue (also known as case law or precedent).

The laws regarding a landlord’s obligation to safely store the tenant’s abandoned property for some period of time after giving the tenant notice vary from state to state, with the time period generally ranging from 5 days to 60 days. In some states the landlord may have a lien on such personal property items to the extent the tenant has a balance of unpaid rent due or the tenant caused damage to the leased premises in excess of any security deposit held by the landlord. And some lease agreements include a provision that defines the landlord’s and tenant’s rights and obligations regarding abandoned property.

The laws regarding a landlord’s obligation to safely store the tenant’s abandoned property for some period of time after giving the tenant notice are usually located in a state’s statutes but may also be included in city or municipal codes or ordinances.

In North Carolina, the handling of a tenant's abandoned property is governed by the North Carolina General Statutes, specifically NCGS § 42-25.9. When a tenant abandons personal property, the landlord must give the tenant a notice to claim the property. The landlord is required to hold the abandoned property for a period of 7 days after the notice is delivered. If the tenant does not claim the property within this time frame, the landlord may dispose of the items. The notice must be mailed to the tenant's last known address or delivered in person. This statute provides the framework for landlords to follow, but the specific terms of the lease agreement may also outline procedures for dealing with abandoned property. If the lease includes such provisions, they must be consistent with state law. Additionally, if the tenant owes unpaid rent or has caused damage to the premises, the landlord may have a lien on the abandoned property. It is important for landlords to follow these legal requirements to avoid potential liability for improperly handling a tenant's abandoned property.