What should a landlord do after a tenant vacates for non-payment of rent?

Full question:

Tenant A is behind in rent payments and has received a Notice to Pay Rent or Quit from Landlord A. Tenant A does not have the funds available and vacates the property. What should Landlord A do once the property is vacated?

Answer:

Once Tenant A vacates the property, Landlord A can typically keep the security deposit to cover some of the unpaid rent. Landlord A should also make efforts to rent the property again as soon as possible. If Tenant A left personal belongings behind, Landlord A may remove them. If the belongings are valued at $50.00 or less, Landlord A can dispose of them seven days after notifying Tenant A. If the belongings are worth more than $50.00, Landlord A must wait forty-five days after notifying Tenant A before selling or disposing of them.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

In New York, there is no specific grace period for tenants to stay without paying rent. If a tenant fails to pay rent, the landlord can initiate eviction proceedings after the rent is due. However, the process can take time, and tenants may remain in the property until the court issues an eviction order.