How do I claim the balance from sale of contents of self serve storage facility?

Full question:

Exactly what steps do I take to claim the balance of the sale of the contents of self serve storage facility which was sold at an auction?

• Category: Abandoned Property
• Subcategory: Abandoned Property Self Storage
• Date: 04/07/2025
• State: New Mexico

Answer:

The owner of the storage facility must deliver the balance of a sale to satisfy a lien to the occupant. However, after two years, if the occupant doesn’t claim the balance, it is forfeited. If the owner fails to deliver the balance from the sale after demand from the occupant, it may be necessary for the occupant to file a complaint in court for the balance due. Before bringing legal action, a dated letter may be sent, preferably by certified mail, requesting delivery of the balance, with expected date of receipt and delivery address specified. If the owner fails to comply, a complaint may be filed in small claims court or civil court for money damages due to failure to comply with the statute below.

The following is a New Mexico statute:

48-11-7. Enforcement of lien. (1987)

A. An owner's lien, as provided under the Self-Service Storage Lien Act [ 48-11-1 to 48-11-9 NMSA 1978], for a claim that has become due may be satisfied as follows:

(1) after the occupant has been in default continuously for a period of five days, the owner may deny the occupant access to his space for storage;

(2) after the occupant has been in default continuously for a period of thirty days, the owner may enter the space and may remove the personal property within it to a safe place, providing that the owner has sent a notice of intent to enforce a lien pursuant to Subsection B of this section to the occupant at his last known address within five days of entering the space. The owner shall also give notice to all lienholders listed in the disclosure provision in the rental agreement; and

(3) no action to sell any property as provided in the Self-Service Storage Lien Act shall be taken by an owner until the occupant has been in default continuously for a period of ninety days.

B. The notice of intent to enforce a lien shall include:

(1) an itemized statement of the owner's claim showing the sum due at the time of the notice and the date when the sum became due;

(2) a brief and general statement of the personal property subject to the lien. That description shall be reasonably adequate to permit the person notified to identify the property, except that any container including a trunk, valise or box that is locked, fastened, sealed or tied in a manner which deters immediate access to its contents may be so described without describing its contents;

(3) a notification of denial of access to the personal property. That notification shall provide the name, street address and telephone number of the owner or his designated agent, whom the occupant may contact to respond to that notification;

(4) a demand for payment within a specified time, not less than fifteen days after the delivery of the notice; and

(5) a conspicuous statement that unless the claim is paid within the time stated in the notice, the personal property will be advertised for sale or other disposition and will be sold or otherwise disposed of to satisfy the owner's lien.

C. All notices made pursuant to this section shall be by certified mail return receipt requested.

D. After the expiration of the time given in the notice of intent to enforce a lien, the owner shall publish an advertisement of the sale or other disposition of the property once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the self-service storage facility is located. The advertisement shall include:

(1) a brief and general description of the personal property reasonably adequate to permit its identification as provided in Paragraph (2) of Subsection B of this section, the address of the self-service storage facility where the personal property is located and the name and last known address of the occupant; and

(2) the time, place and manner of the sale or other disposition. The sale or disposition shall take place not sooner than fifteen days after the first publication.

If there is no newspaper of general circulation in the county where the self-service storage facility is located, the owner shall post the advertisement at least ten days prior to the sale or other disposition in at least six conspicuous places in the neighborhood where the self-service storage facility is located.

E. Any sale or other disposition of the personal property shall conform to the terms of the notification as provided for in this section.

F. Any sale or other disposition of the personal property shall be held at the self-service storage facility or at the nearest suitable place within the county to where the personal property is held or stored.

G. Before any sale or other disposition of personal property pursuant to this section is made, the occupant may pay the amount necessary to satisfy the lien and the reasonable expenses incurred under this section and thereby redeem the property. Upon receipt of the payment, the owner shall return the personal property and thereafter the owner shall have no liability to any person with regard to that personal property.

H. A good faith purchaser takes the property free of any rights of an unsecured lienholder and free of any rights of a secured lienholder who has received notice by owner as provided in this section.

I. In the event of a sale under this section, the owner may satisfy his lien from the proceeds of the sale, subject to the rights of any prior lien holder who has not received notice. The lien rights of such prior lien holder are automatically transferred to the proceeds of the sale. If the sale was made in good faith and conducted in a reasonable manner, the owner shall not be subject to any surcharge for a deficiency in the amount of a prior secured lien, but shall hold the balance, if any, for delivery to the occupant, lien holder or other person in interest. If the occupant, lien holder or other person in interest does not claim the balance of the proceeds within two years of the date of sale, it shall become the property of the owner without further recourse by the occupant, lien holder or other person in interest.

Nothing in this section affects the rights and liabilities of the owner, occupant or any other person if there is a willful violation of any of the provisions of the Self-Service Storage Lien Act.