Okay, I've looked up issues on here to see what I can find similar and I've tried looking up local laws with some luck.

I rent a house with some friends. One of which is on the lease and the other is not. They've been gone a month now, bills have came and gone and things are running past due since we were not expecting to have to cover all the house expenses. There has been no contact from them, and we have tried to find them to no avail.

What legal obligations, if any, do we have as far as the belongings that they have left here goes?

Furthermore, my wife got ansy with all of the bills building up well past what we had and sold some of their possession to put towards bills. What reprecussions might this bring?

They've been gone a month now, and sold some of their possession to put towards bills. What reprecussions might this bring?

LOL lots. You cannot simply sell property that is not yours to settle a debt without going thru some steps first which include public notice in a newspaper.

If he returns, regardless of the reasons why he left or for how long, he could take action against you for liquidating his property. He could also expect full replacement value of the items.

LOL lots. You cannot simply sell property that is not yours to settle a debt without going thru some steps first which include public notice in a newspaper.

I believe I saw a response post on a similar topic in the forums here that mentioned posting notice in the newpaper as well, and then was followed up with waiting about 10 days before hauling off the possessions. Would that be seem to be the case here? Also, do I need to leave the remaining possessions where they are for the time being or can I pack them up and begin cleaning the mess that was left behind?

We've asked our landlords, and the are unsure as well. They are a old couple renting out a extra house they own and have not dealt with similar issues before. Though it does show me in glaring detail why alot of landlords don't like renting places out to groups of friends.

If he returns, regardless of the reasons why he left or for how long, he could take action against you for liquidating his property. He could also expect full replacement value of the items.

That was, unfortunately, along the lines I was expecting in response to the second part. If he were to return how would that most likely work, we'd take him to court for money owed to rent and he'd take us to court seperately for the sold property? Or would it be bundled as one contested issue of who owes who?

At this point, in all honesty, I'm expecting that we can take any due process that is necessarily and be free of them before we can expect to hear from them at all, but if there is any advice or suggestions just in case, they would still be greatly appreciated. Preferably without the mirth

Read this.

http://www.le.state.ut.us/~1997/bills/sbillint/SB0071.htm

Also, do I need to leave the remaining possessions where they are for the time being or can I pack them up and begin cleaning the mess that was left behind?



Until you reach a resolution or prove abandonment, your obligation is to take reasonable measures to safeguard the items from theft/damage ect. I would not rent a storage unit however as I think you might not be able to recover that.

A cheaper way out would be to file for eviction and let the sheriff/constable allow you to put the stuff out into the street as trash.

A cheaper way out would be to file for eviction and let the sheriff/constable allow you to put the stuff out into the street as trash.

Yes but, they still have to protect the items till that takes place,