Hi, I had a tenant here for 6 months and he paid no rent. In November I evicted him, and it has been 2 months since Ive heard from him. Ive tried to make contact with him about his belongings; how long do I need to keep his stuff here before I can discard it?
-Thanks

MA is tenant heaven, so you better be careful. I would recommend that you contact a local landlord association to determine how best to handle the situation. In some states you are required to put their stuff in storage and notify them(certified letter return receipt requested)of where their property is being housed and how to get it out. Why don’t you discuss it with a realty attorney? or Ask the sheriff department what their experience has been in similar cases.

Would I have to go about it the same way even if there was no written agreement/contract?

Honestly, I think that after a few weeks and after notifying him that he had ten days to pick up his stuff I would have taken pictures of his property, sent him a letter priority mail with return receipt requested with a notice that he had ten days to pick up his stuff or I would throw it away.
I have not been burned by a tenant. But, since you are in MA, I would definitely check with a local landlord association. The fact that he did not have a lease does not matter. You had a verbal contract with him. Stick around maybe someone else can help.