Old and valuable items found on leased property

[3junebugs]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? PA

If you find old papers and books that are potentially worth a lot of money at a home you rent, can you then sell those items?

 

[Ozark_Sophist]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? PA

If you find old papers and books that are potentially worth a lot of money at a home you rent, can you then sell those items?

Not legally.

 

[BL]

Depending on where you found them ,the home owner might be inclined to give you a reward for the find .

You are just leasing ( meaning you have use of ) the premises during that period of time.

 

[3junebugs]

That's what I thought. It's not your property if you are renting.

 

[ki23]

If the items were lost and not abandoned then the property owner has no better claim to them then you do. You are in possession of the items now, you did not take them from the property owner, and he can't take them from you. A property owner does not have some special 'finders-keepers' right that you don't have.

 

[Zigner]

If the items were lost and not abandoned then the property owner has no better claim to them then you do. You are in possession of the items now, you did not take them from the property owner, and he can't take them from you. A property owner does not have some special 'finders-keepers' right that you don't have.

Wow, how did you manage to get that rubbish up without gagging?

 

[tranquility]

If the items were lost and not abandoned then the property owner has no better claim to them then you do. You are in possession of the items now, you did not take them from the property owner, and he can't take them from you. A property owner does not have some special 'finders-keepers' right that you don't have.

While the post is completely non-sensical and truly needs a complete rewrite, there is a slight kernel of truth there. I remember a bunch of old cases having to do with the rules on ownership when property was found.

 

[Searchertwin]

If the items were lost and not abandoned then the property owner has no better claim to them then you do. You are in possession of the items now, you did not take them from the property owner, and he can't take them from you. A property owner does not have some special 'finders-keepers' right that you don't have.

You mean, if I would have left my child behind for the renter to find in the closet, would that mean the renter will take claim the child is his?
If it was this easy, I would have done it. Just think of all the money I could have saved! Clothes, braces, gifts, school, etc.

 

[LdiJ]

While the post is completely non-sensical and truly needs a complete rewrite, there is a slight kernel of truth there. I remember a bunch of old cases having to do with the rules on ownership when property was found.

I agree with this, but I suspect this is a case of a couple of valuable items where left in the basement, garage, shed or attic of a home, and that is where they were "found".

 

[Searchertwin]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? PA

If you find old papers and books that are potentially worth a lot of money at a home you rent, can you then sell those items?

Why would you want to take something that does not belong to you?

Do you think this is the right thing to do?
Of course not, would you want that done to you? Of course not
Do what is right and give it all back to the LL.

 

[Searchertwin]

While the post is completely non-sensical and truly needs a complete rewrite, there is a slight kernel of truth there. I remember a bunch of old cases having to do with the rules on ownership when property was found.

Rules of ownership of selling property, not rental.

 

[justalayman]

ki23;3096872]If the items were lost and not abandoned then the property owner has no better claim to them then you do.

You are in possession of the items now, you did not take them from the property owner, and he can't take them from you.

Yes, OP did take them from the property owner just like if the tenant took the curtains hanging on the wall (presuming the landlord provided them).

A property owner does not have some special 'finders-keepers' right that you don't have.

actually, yes, they do.

The property owner may not actually have a claim on the items, depending on the totality of the situation but he might. The tenant has absolutely no claim to the items, ever. Taking them is a criminal act.

 

[tranquility]

I agree with this, but I suspect this is a case of a couple of valuable items where left in the basement, garage, shed or attic of a home, and that is where they were "found".

I agree. But, I'd have to go back to the cases to see how they were actually decided to even get the issues involved. If they were "found" out in the open, I'd think it more likely they were abandoned, but would have to do some research to be sure. What I remembered was it was one of the parts of property law where what you'd think would be the case, isn't.

 

[ki23]

If the items were lost (by someone other than the property owner) and not abandoned then the property owner has no better claim to them then you do. You are in possession of the items now, you did not take them from the property owner, and he can't take them from you. A property owner does not have some special 'finders-keepers' right that you don't have.

Of course if they were left there by the property owner then of course they don't belong to the tenant. If they were abandoned there by someone else before(or after) the property owner took possession of the real estate then they probably do belong to the property owner. But- if items were lost there by someone other than the property owner, it is not so clear that the items belong to the property owner anymore so than the tenant.

 

[Zigner]

If the items were lost (by someone other than the property owner) and not abandoned then the property owner has no better claim to them then you do. You are in possession of the items now, you did not take them from the property owner, and he can't take them from you. A property owner does not have some special 'finders-keepers' right that you don't have.

Of course if they were left there by the property owner then of course they don't belong to the tenant. If they were abandoned there by someone else before(or after) the property owner took possession of the real estate then they probably do belong to the property owner. But- if items were lost there by someone other than the property owner, it is not so clear that the items belong to the property owner anymore so than the tenant.

Backpedal much?