Getting rid of unwanted furniture can be a real headache. It’s often oversized, difficult to transport, and hard to remove from your property.
Finding easy ways to remove and dispose of furniture can be a game changer for landlords. But we wanted to take even more of the weight off your shoulders—figuratively of course. We’ve pulled together the ultimate guide to disposing of furniture in Orange County and San Diego. We’ve included the best places to donate, sell, and dispose of furniture, and also provided all the background information you need to know about disposing of abandoned tenant personal property.
If you’re looking for reliable Orange County property managers to help you with your rental, give us a call at (949) 892-1505.
Key Takeaways
- We recommend junk removal services for quick removal. You can donate to local charities (e.g., Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity), or sell via platforms like Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp.
- California law requires landlords to notify tenants of abandoned items and wait 18 days before disposal.
- If you need to get rid of large amounts of furniture, consider an estate sale.
- To minimize issues with abandoned property, we caution you yo screen tenants carefully, document tenancy, and collect forwarding addresses.
Table of Contents
What to do When You Have Furniture You Don’t Need
We often work with clients who are taking their property and turning it into a rental property. They recognize that having an unfurnished property versus a furnished property is going to give them their best return on investment. They then find themselves with furniture that they no longer need.
When you’re faced with moving large couches, dining tables, and cabinets, it can be overwhelming trying to decide what to do with the furniture. Do you donate, sell, or just throw it away? There’s no wrong answer but finding the path of least resistance for whichever route you choose is going to help make the process easier for you.
Let’s take a look at each option and explore the Orange County and San Diego services that can help you.
If you want to get rid of your furniture
Whether the furniture has seen better days or you’re looking for a quick and easy solution, junk removal services can ensure the furniture is out of sight, and out of mind as fast as possible. Every service offers different options, so be sure to do your research to find the best solution for your needs. Look for same-day junk removal, estate cleanouts, furniture removal, and appliance removal services.
Some options in Orange County and San Diego include:
If you want to donate your furniture
Another option to dispose of your furniture when it still has some life left to live is to donate it to a local charity. While some charities and thrift stores will not accept furniture, there are many options in San Diego and Orange County that do take donations of gently used furniture. From couches and tables to desks and dressers, donating your furniture is a great way to give back to your local community. In some cases, the charity can also issue a tax receipt for the donation so be sure to inquire when you make a donation. Some charities will also pick up furniture if you’re unable to make a drop-off.
Some options in Orange County and San Diego include:
- Father Joe’s Village
- Couch Disposal+
- Habitat for Humanity – Find your local ReStore
- Goodwill – Find your local Goodwill
- Savers – Find your community drop-off center
- Salvation Army – Find your local donation center
If you want to sell your furniture
While selling your furniture may take more time and effort on your part, it will hopefully result in you recouping some of your initial investment. There are a lot of great online resources to help you sell your furniture locally—from Facebook Marketplace to OfferUp, it’s simple to create a listing that will be seen by your community. You can also use apps like Nextdoor to get your furniture in front of your neighbors who may be interested.
Some options in Orange County and San Diego include:
If you have a lot of furniture and property to get rid of, consider an estate sale
If you’ve inherited a property and are looking to clear it out to turn it into a rental property, holding an estate sale is a great way to manage large amounts of furniture and property. There’s no need to be overwhelmed by the amount of things you’ll need to get rid of—you can work with an estate sales team that will take care of the entire process for you. By the end of your estate sale, you’ll have made a profit on the furniture and be left with an empty property that you can turn into a profitable rental.
Some options in Orange County and San Diego include:
What Happens When Tenants Leave Furniture Behind?
When tenants leave furniture behind, it can throw a wrench into the move-out process. While you can use any of the above methods to dispose of the furniture, there are laws and regulations that surround how and when you can take the steps to dispose of the furniture.
Let’s dig into the California laws that surround abandoned personal property and outline the steps to take if you find yourself in this situation.
A Deeper Look at California Abandoned Property Law
There are a variety of laws in California that govern how landlords handle abandoned personal property after a tenant moves out. California Civil Code Section 1980 – 1991 (Chapter 5) and California Code of Civil Procedure Section 714 – Disposition of Abandoned Property After Termination of Tenancy cover the general process of disposing of abandoned property when a tenant leaves it behind after moving it. It states that landlords are required to send a written notice to their tenants to inform them of any abandoned property.
You must then wait 18 days from the date of sending the letter before moving forward with selling or disposing of the items. You can charge your tenant for the cost of storage or disposal but if the property is worth over $700 you must try to sell it. The proceeds from the sale should be used to cover the costs of removal, storage, and sale, with any remaining funds returned to the tenant.
These laws also state that landlords can charge tenants reasonable costs for removal and storage, but the fees cannot be excessive or unfair.
If a tenant requests their property be returned to them within the 18-day period, you must return the property to them but you are not required to cover the costs to return the property (i.e. delivery fees).
It’s essential that landlords follow the required steps and timelines. If you fail to follow these steps, you can find yourself in legal and financial trouble.
How to Get Rid of Unwanted Tenant Furniture and Personal Belongings
If you find yourself with abandoned property in your unit after a tenant leaves, there are five steps to follow to ensure you are following regulations and cannot be found liable in the future.
Step 1: Inspect the property
After your tenant has vacated the property, inspect the property as you normally would. Conduct a thorough inspection and complete a move-out checklist. If you find any personal property has been left in the rental property, move on to the next step. If there is no property left, no further action needs to be taken.
Step 2: Notify the tenant
If there is personal property left behind, you must attempt to notify the tenant that they have left property behind. Be sure to include an itemized list of what has been left behind, and inform them that they have 18 days to make arrangements to retrieve the property. You should also inform them if you’re storing the property and what costs will be incurred because of this.
Step 3: Waiting period
Once you’ve done your best to contact the tenant, you need to wait 18 days before you take any further action. If the tenant doesn’t respond during that time, you can then move on to Step 4. If they do contact you and want to retrieve their property, you’ll need to arrange a time and place to meet them.
Step 4: Determine what to do with the property
Now that you know the tenant has waived their claim to the property, it’s time for you to decide what to do with the property. If the property has a value greater than $700 you are required to try to sell it. Otherwise, you can choose to sell it, donate it, or simply dispose of it.
Step 5: Sell or dispose of the property
If you choose to sell the property, you can use the proceeds to cover the cost of removal, storage, and the time it took you to sell the property. Any additional funds must be returned to the tenant.
If you want to dispose of the property you can decide if you want to donate it to charity or simply dispose of it. Our list above gives you a list of charities and junk removal services to help you with this process if you’re dealing with larger furniture items.
How to Prevent Tenants from Abandoning Their Personal Property
Dealing with tenants leaving personal belongings behind is an additional headache that most landlords would prefer to avoid dealing with. It takes time and effort that would be better spent elsewhere. While you cannot control your tenant’s actions, there are some things you can do to ensure personal property doesn’t get left behind in your rental property.
Screening your tenants before signing a lease is a great way to ensure there are responsible people living in your property who are less likely to leave their personal belongings behind when their lease expires. Take the time to properly screen tenants or work with a professional property management company that can help you effectively screen tenants.
Document everything during their tenancy and be sure to collect a forwarding address before they move out. This will make the process of contacting them if anything is left behind easier to manage.
We’re Here to Help Manage Your Rental Property
At Good Life Property Management, we believe life should be enjoyed, not spent sweating the small stuff. That’s why we set out to make property management easy. We care about you, your property, and your tenant. And we do it all so you can Live the Good Life.
Schedule a call to speak with one of our Good Life experts.
Abandoned Tenant Property FAQs
How do I get free bulky item pickup in San Diego, California?
If you’re looking to dispose of a large item or piece of furniture in San Diego, you can donate it to a local charity like Father Joe’s Village. Some charities offer free pickup for large items.
What to do when a tenant leaves belongings behind in California?
If a tenant leaves personal property behind, landlords must inform the tenants and give them 18 days to collect the property before they sell or dispose of it.
How long can someone leave their belongings on your property in California?
If a tenant leaves their personal property in your rental unit, you are required to give them 18 days’ notice to remove the property before you are legally allowed to sell or dispose of it. You can charge the tenant a reasonable storage fee in exchange for the property.
Can a landlord throw out personal belongings in California?
A landlord can throw out personal property in California after they’ve given their former tenants 18 days’ notice if the property is worth less than $700. If it is worth more than $700, landlords are required to try to sell the personal property.
Steve Welty
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