Q: My hoarder ex-girlfriend moved out of my TN house-there's no lease. She won't get her things. What can I do?
The home is my grandmother's, who moved into a smaller home. We lived there together for 4 years; no lease-no rent. She has moved out but left all her tubs, boxes, and stuff that fills the rooms from floor to ceiling. This was a big reason why we split up. She demands-with no notice-I cancel any plans to allow her to come get her things at her exact time and threatens the police if i don't do as she asks. Then she cancels. She has not gotten anything in over a month. She also states she can come into my home whenever she wants with whoever she wants. I feel she is using this as a means of retaliation.
A:
In Tennessee, if your ex-girlfriend lived in the house for an extended period and kept her belongings there, she might be considered a tenant at will, despite not having a formal lease or paying rent. However, since she has moved out, you can take steps to address the situation:
1. Written notice: Send her a written notice via certified mail, requesting that she remove her belongings by a specific date (e.g., 30 days from the notice date). Keep a copy of the notice for your records.
2. Reasonable timeframe: Provide her with a reasonable timeframe to collect her items, and be flexible in arranging a mutually convenient time for her to do so.
3. Communicate in writing: Insist that all further communication be done in writing to maintain a record of your interactions and agreements.
4. Police presence: If she does come to collect her belongings, you may request a police officer to be present to ensure a peaceful transfer and prevent any false allegations.
5. Storage: If she fails to remove her belongings by the specified date, you may move them to a storage facility at her expense. Notify her in writing of the storage location and any associated costs.
6. Legal action: If she continues to be uncooperative, consult with a local attorney who specializes in landlord-tenant law. They can advise you on the proper legal procedures for removing her belongings and protecting your rights.
Remember, you cannot simply dispose of her belongings without following the proper legal process, as this could lead to legal consequences. Maintain detailed records of all communications and actions taken throughout the process.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
