Cal. Civ. Code § 55.1-1254
Disposal of property abandoned by tenants.
Operative Text
If any items of personal property are left in the dwelling unit, the premises, or any storage area provided by the landlord after the rental agreement has terminated and delivery of possession has occurred, the landlord may consider such property to be abandoned. The landlord may dispose of the property so abandoned as the landlord sees fit or appropriate, provided that he has given (i) a termination notice to the tenant in accordance with this chapter, including a statement that any items of personal property left in the dwelling unit or the premises would be disposed of within the 24-hour period after termination; (ii) written notice to the tenant in accordance with § 55.1-1249 , including a statement that any items of personal property left in the dwelling unit, the premises, or the storage area would be disposed of within the 24-hour period after expiration of the seven-day notice period; or (iii) a separate written notice to the tenant, including a statement that any items of personal property left in the dwelling unit, the premises, or the storage area would be disposed of within 24 hours after expiration of a 10-day period from the date such notice was given to the tenant. Any written notice to the tenant shall be given in accordance with § 55.1-1202 . The tenant shall have the right to remove his personal property from the dwelling unit, the premises, or the storage area at reasonable times during the 24-hour period after termination or at such other reasonable times until the landlord has disposed of the remaining personal property of the tenant. During the 24-hour period and until the landlord disposes of the remaining personal property of the tenant, the landlord shall not have any liability for the risk of loss for such personal property. If the landlord fails to allow reasonable access to the tenant to remove his personal property as provided in this section, the tenant shall have a right to injunctive or other relief as provided by law. If the landlord received any funds from any sale of abandoned property as provided in this section, the landlord shall pay such funds to the account of the tenant and apply the funds to any amounts due the landlord by the tenant, including the reasonable costs incurred by the landlord in selling, storing, or safekeeping such property. If any such funds are remaining after application, the remaining funds shall be treated as a security deposit under the provisions of § 55.1-1226 . The provisions of this section shall not be applicable if the landlord has been granted an order of possession for the premises in accordance with Title 8.01 and execution of a writ of eviction has been completed pursuant to § 8.01-470 . Nothing in this section shall affect the right of a landlord to enforce an inchoate or perfected lien of the landlord on the personal property of a tenant in a dwelling unit or on the premises leased to such tenant and the right of a landlord to distress, levy, and seize such personal property as otherwise provided by law.
Va. Code § 55.1-1254 governs what happens to personal property a tenant leaves behind after a rental agreement ends and possession is returned to the landlord. Once proper written notice has been given—warning that belongings will be disposed of within 24 hours after a specified period—the landlord is permitted to treat remaining items as abandoned and dispose of them as the landlord sees fit. Any money received from selling abandoned property must first be applied to amounts the tenant owes, with any surplus treated as a security deposit under Virginia law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Va. Code § 55.1-1254, compliant operators ensure that any notice given to a departing tenant clearly states the disposal timeline—whether tied to a termination notice, a seven-day notice, or a separate ten-day notice—and that all notices are delivered in accordance with § 55.1-1202. During the 24-hour disposal window, landlords generally allow the tenant reasonable access to retrieve belongings, since blocking that access can expose the landlord to injunctive or other legal relief. Proceeds from any sale of abandoned items are tracked carefully, applied first to outstanding tenant obligations, and any surplus is handled as a security deposit under § 55.1-1226.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Va. Code § 55.1-1254 gives tenants the right to retrieve personal property left behind at reasonable times during the 24-hour window following proper notice, before the landlord disposes of it. If a landlord refuses reasonable access during that period, the statute provides a right to seek injunctive or other relief through the courts. Tenants who believe a landlord has not followed the required notice procedures may consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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