Can landlord keep my personal property?

[obie]

What is the name of your state?NY

I left 2 messages on landlords answering machine, telling him I am breaking the lease 6 months early, claims he didn't get them. I couldn't live another day next door to the other tenents, its a duplex.

I rent a uhaul on Friday the 3rd, have all utilities set to to turn off following Monday the 6th, as of Saturday (4th) I have a stove, dryer, weight bench and a box of kids trophys left there, place is scrubbed spotless, planned to get my remaining things Sun., Sat. I get a call, landlord says I abandened the property and he's changed the locks, wants one months rent in exchange for my things or he will keep them and sue me, I know he can sue me, but can he keep my things and change the locks without notice ?

One more thing, he called my new landlord, he had the number because new landlord called old one for a credit reference, and told him I broke a lease and he's sueing me, is there a law against him calling people I know and divulging that info?

 

[Devedander]

You need to provide written notice of intent to quit. A message on an answering machine doens't cut it.

Your landlord can proceed in any manner legally applicable to you and legally has not recieved notice to quit.

However if your LL never recieved intent to quit notice, then I believe you had until the 5th to pay your rent before it was considered late. Up until that time you were are legal tenant and he had no right to change the locks as simply removing most of your stuff does not constitute abandoning.

I believe he has now slandered you considering that: You did not abandon the apt as the locks were changed before your rental period was up so you cannot be heald accountable for not retrieving your possessions and he has not filed a suite against you yet.

He has befamed your character with false accusations. You may be due compensation for this if you can show damange or loss from his actions, I would contact an attorney for the details on that.

 

[south]

No he cannot keep your stuff.

No there is not a law against him contacting another landlord and tellng them the truth about his experience with a bad renter that broke his lease.

And besides new landlord called for a credit reference and got one.

What is the name of your state?NY

I left 2 messages on landlords answering machine, telling him I am breaking the lease 6 months early, claims he didn't get them. I couldn't live another day next door to the other tenents, its a duplex.

I rent a uhaul on Friday the 3rd, have all utilities set to to turn off following Monday the 6th, as of Saturday (4th) I have a stove, dryer, weight bench and a box of kids trophys left there, place is scrubbed spotless, planned to get my remaining things Sun., Sat. I get a call, landlord says I abandened the property and he's changed the locks, wants one months rent in exchange for my things or he will keep them and sue me, I know he can sue me, but can he keep my things and change the locks without notice ?

One more thing, he called my new landlord, he had the number because new landlord called old one for a credit reference, and told him I broke a lease and he's sueing me, is there a law against him calling people I know and divulging that info?

 

[obie]

update-
Just left the police station, they said he cannot hold my property hostage, they said when I know he's there, call them and they will meet me there and have him unlock the door so I can get my possesions.

 

[HomeGuru]

update-
Just left the police station, they said he cannot hold my property hostage, they said when I know he's there, call them and they will meet me there and have him unlock the door so I can get my possesions.

**A: then there is your answer.

 

[south]

That answer sounds familiar, wonder where I have seen that before

update-
Just left the police station, they said he cannot hold my property hostage, they said when I know he's there, call them and they will meet me there and have him unlock the door so I can get my possesions.

 

[HomeGuru]

On an NYPD Blue rerun?

 

[south]

That’s right I remember now it was the one were the disgruntled landlord had barricaded him self up in the tenants unit while holding the tenants stuff 'hostage' and he was threatening to shoot the furniture if anyone came near the unit.

God am I really that bored?

On an NYPD Blue rerun?

 

[HomeGuru]

God am I really that bored?

**A: no, but your mind is.

signed,
God