Need help.... Moving out and property owner will nto let us get our stuff

[tylerdustin2008]

Hey there guys and gals.

My sister is moving out of the house she is living in. There are two other people living there, the owners, wife and husband.

They will not let my sister get her things unless she pays $500 in bills, she only owes them $250 though.

What can I do, I am the one moving the items. The owner of the house has a Glock 40... I don't want to piss him off.

Help please, We have to get all these things moved out tomorrow. My little nephew is living in a Hotel room for now. We need to get the items.

Sorry it I have worded things wrong, I am in a hurry. Going to get some things tonight if I can.

Thanks allot.

Tyler

 

[Capt Caveman]

Call the Police.

 

[Lazy8s]

My recommendation is call the local police station and see what they say. They might send an officer out with you but probably you will have to sue them in court and pray to god you have photos of her stuff or all of the *missing* items will basically be gone forever.

Also, pay the $250 she owes BEFORE you sue them and make sure you have proof you paid them. A certified cashier's check or something would help.

 

[Ns1]

Tell the PD that the guy has a gun and you need to retrieve your belongings?

 

[compman25]

Go to court and put a lien on their house.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: Ns1
Tell the PD that the guy has a gun and you need to retrieve your belongings?

Exactly.

Originally posted by: Lazy8s
My recommendation is call the local police station and see what they say. They might send an officer out with you but probably you will have to sue them in court and pray to god you have photos of her stuff or all of the *missing* items will basically be gone forever.

Also, pay the $250 she owes BEFORE you sue them and make sure you have proof you paid them. A certified cashier's check or something would help.

Do that first before anything. get that out of the way ASAP.

 

[Epic Fail]

If the lease haven't ended, they have no right to lock the property. Even in eviction cases, landlords must still store the items of tenants, but they can charge a storage fee.

 

[Double Trouble]

I don't know where you are, but in most states - at least the ones I'm aware of - the landlord is not allow to simply keep your stuff as an "offset" for some bills you might owe. Bottom line, you (or rather your sister) tells them she is coming or having someone come by to pick up her things. Go there. If they refuse to let you take the stuff, you call the local PD. They will come to the scene and force the owner to let you go about your business moving the stuff out. If they feel your sister owes them money for some bill, they can collect the money from her like any other unsecured debt owner (suing).

 

[alkemyst]

if you are figuring she owes $250 because that is her half, that is where many renters are wrong.

You are all responsible for 100% of the liabilities.

 

[Double Trouble]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
if you are figuring she owes $250 because that is her half, that is where many renters are wrong.

You are all responsible for 100% of the liabilities.

It doesn't matter who's right or wrong about the bills. Basically, the debt is legally completely separate from her "things". The two are completely unrelated as far as the law goes, and the landlord cannot hold her stuff "hostage" until she forks over the cash. You get to take your stuff, and the landlord can pursue the debt in whatever way he sees fit afterward.

 

[tylerdustin2008]

Thanks guys.

This is what I figured, but I had to make sure before I showed up with the moving truck tomorrow.

And the $250 is rent and half of two bills.

 

[alkemyst]

the property can be held if the landlord filed a lien against them...it's not clear if they were served a formal eviction or just decided to move out. Being that the owners live there as well you will need some clear way to prove to the sheriff who's stuff is who's. This is where it can get tricky especially if they say she already took her stuff. I am not saying it's right or that's what will happen, it's just that there are a lot of ways the landlord can make it hell.

Being that they also live in the unit you can't keep them out and that makes it easy for them to move things and hide stuff.

 

[summit]

has the lease expired?