Eviction & moving out
Can my landlord keep or throw out things I left behind?
Only after following your state's abandoned-property process. Most states require written notice and a waiting period before a landlord may store, sell, or dispose of belongings.
What counts as abandonment, how long the landlord must wait, and what they must do with your things differ by state. Some require them to store items for a set time and let you reclaim them; low-value items are often treated more loosely.
A landlord can't simply throw out belongings the day after a missed payment or an informal move-out. If an eviction was carried out by the sheriff, the process may be different from a voluntary move-out.
If you moved out and left items, send a written request to collect them with a pickup date, and keep a copy.
Do something about it
The Move-out kit turns this answer into action.
General educational information, not legal advice. Laws vary by state and city and change over time - for a specific situation, contact a local tenant-rights organization.