Full question:
My landlord is threatening to sell all my property saying that it is abandoned property. I have been out of my rental house only for two weeks and my landlord is saying that all the property that I left behind is abandoned. When does a tenant’s property become abandoned according to Wisconsin law?
- Category: Abandoned Property
- Subcategory: Landlord Tenant
- Date:
- State: Wisconsin
Answer:
A tenant’s property is considered abandoned after the lease is terminated. In your case, since you have been out of the rental unit for two weeks, your landlord may claim your property is abandoned. Generally, any property left in the rental unit after the lease ends is presumed to be both valueless and abandoned.
According to Wisconsin law, once the landlord regains possession of the rental unit, they can dispose of any property they believe is hazardous, perishable, or valueless. For valuable property, the landlord must provide written notice to you, describing the abandoned property and stating that it will be disposed of after seven days if you do not reclaim it or notify them of your intent to do so. If you do not respond within this period, the property is deemed abandoned, and the landlord may dispose of it. If you respond within seven days indicating your intent to reclaim the property, it will be held for an additional seven days. If you fail to take possession within that time, it will also be considered abandoned.
The landlord can charge for storage costs for the time the property is kept, and they are not liable for any loss during storage.
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.