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Delaware, Sussex Co, tenant disappeared

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georgecole

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? Delaware
A tenant that owed months of back rent disappeared. He left lots of damage to the property . He also left personal property. Somone said he was in jail, but I cannot locate him. The place in unliveable. Do I have to go thru a legal eviction (it takes 6 wks), and then file notice before I can deal with the personal property that he left? I want to fix the
place up and clear the yard.What is the name of your state?
 


The Deleware State Code offers the following instructions for landlords in your situation:

§ 5507. Landlord remedies for absence or abandonment.

(a) If the rental agreement provides for notification to the landlord by the tenant of an anticipated extended absence as defined in this Code or in the rental agreement, and the tenant fails to comply with such requirement, the tenant shall indemnify the landlord for any harm resulting from such absence.

(b) The landlord may, during any extended absence of the tenant, enter the rental unit as is reasonably necessary for inspection, maintenance and safekeeping.

(c) Unless otherwise agreed to in the rental agreement, the tenant shall use the rental unit only as the tenant's abode. A violation of this covenant shall constitute the breach of a rule under § 5511 of this title, and shall entitle the landlord to proceed as specified elsewhere in this chapter.

(d) If the tenant wrongfully quits the rental unit and unequivocally indicates by words or deeds the tenant's intention not to resume tenancy, such action by the tenant shall entitle the landlord to proceed as specified elsewhere in this chapter and the tenant shall be liable for the lesser of the following for such abandonment:

(1) The entire rent due for the remainder of the term and expenses for actual damages caused by the tenant (other than normal wear and tear) which are incurred in preparing the rental unit for a new tenant; or

(2) All rent accrued during the period reasonably necessary to re-rent the premises at a fair rental; plus the difference between such fair rental and the rent agreed to in the prior rental agreement; plus expenses incurred to re-rent; repair damage caused by the tenant (beyond normal wear and tear); plus a reasonable commission, if incurred by the landlord for the re-renting of the premises. In any event, the landlord has a duty to mitigate damages.

(e) If there is no appeal from a judgment granting summary possession under subsection (c) or (d) of this section, the landlord may immediately remove and store, at the tenant's expense, any and all items left on the premises by the tenant. Seven days after the appeal period has expired, the property shall be deemed abandoned and may be disposed of by the landlord without further notice or liability. (70 Del. Laws, c. 513, § 3.)
Unfortunately, the Code does not appear to release you from the requirement for due process. To move forward, it appears that you must seek Summary Possession. Once a judgement is issued, your rights to proceed should be unimpeded. For information on obtaining such a judgement, follow this link:

http://www.delcode.state.de.us/title25/c057/index.htm#TopOfPage
 

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