Inventory of Tenant’s Abandoned Personal Property (Form A)
Landlords use Form A to record personal property that a tenant has left behind after the tenancy (lease) has ended. If the goods are dirty or unsafe, have no monetary value or the cost of inventorying, removing, storing and selling the property would be more than the proceeds of the sale, the landlord can dispose of the goods right away. Otherwise, the landlord needs to store the goods for 30 days to give the tenant a chance to claim them.
Use Form A: Inventory of Tenant’s Abandoned Personal Property to record personal property that a tenant has left behind after the tenancy (lease) has ended.
If the goods are dirty or unsafe, have no monetary value or the cost of inventorying, removing, storing and selling the property would be more than the proceeds of the sale, you can dispose of the goods right away. Otherwise, you need to store the goods for 30 days to give the tenant a chance to claim them. Property like personal documents, photographs and other items that are impossible or difficult to replace also need to be stored.
Storing personal property
After you submit Form A, you need to store personal property for 30 days before you can dispose of it or sell it publicly.
Who can use this form
Landlords need to use the form to record personal property that a tenant has left behind after the tenancy (lease) has ended.
What you need to do
- Complete the form.
- Keep a copy of the form for your records.
- Take your completed form to Access Nova Scotia.
- Forward a copy of the completed form to the tenant or next of kin.
- Wait 30 days.
- Request permission from a residential tenancy officer to sell or dispose of the goods after 30 days have passed.
- Dispose of or sell your tenant’s abandoned personal property after a residential tenancy officer gives you permission. The goods have to be sold publicly if they’re worth more than $500.
- Submit Form B: Accounting of Sale of Abandoned Personal Property within 10 days of selling the goods. You don’t have to complete the form if you dispose of the goods.
How long it takes
It should take 2 to 3 months to complete the process. It can take longer if more information is needed or if your form hasn’t been filled in correctly.
Cost
There is no cost to submit the form.
Before you start
Make sure you have:
- name of tenant
- forwarding address for tenant or next of kin
- date tenant abandoned the rental unit
- amount of security deposit
- location where you will store tenant’s abandoned personal property
- list of tenant’s abandoned personal property