New Jersey Department of Community Affairs - Disposal of Remaining Personal Property Abandoned by Tenant - N.J.S.A. 2A:18-72 to 2A:18-84

Sep 16, 2026

Provides statutory requirements for how a New Jersey landlord may dispose of tangible goods and other personal property left behind by a tenant after abandonment. Defines when a landlord may presume abandonment, the conditions for disposal after executing removal actions or receiving written relinquishment, and the limits on applying the statute to certain nonresidential leases. Establishes notice methods, required notice contents, removal deadlines, storage duties, care standards, treatment of perishable items, and circumstances that trigger conclusive abandonment.

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2A:18-72 Disposal of remaining personal property abandoned by tenant

When disposition is permitted

Exemption for certain nonresidential leases

2A:18-73 Notice to tenant prior to disposition

Required delivery methods

Manufactured or mobile homes notices

2A:18-74 Contents of notice

Removal deadlines

What the landlord may do if property is not removed

Tenant claims and availability for removal

2A:18-75 Storing abandoned property

Safekeeping and reasonable care

Perishable items, pets, and livestock

Storage charges and locations

2A:18-76 Conditions under which the property is considered abandoned

New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Landlord-Tenant Information Service DISPOSAL OF REMAINING PERSONAL PROPERTY ABANDONED BY TENANT N.J.S.A. 2A:18-72 through 2A:18-84 Reprinted February 2008 2A:18-72. Disposal of remaining personal property abandoned by tenant 1. A landlord of commercial or residential property, in the manner provided by P.L.1999, c.340 (C.2A:18-72 et al.), may dispose of any tangible goods, chattels, manufactured or mobile homes or other personal property left upon a premises by a tenant after giving notice as required by section 2 of P.L.1999, c.340 (C.2A:18-73), only if the landlord reasonably believes under all the circumstances that the tenant has left the property upon the premises with no intention of asserting any further claim to the premises or the property and: a. A warrant for removal has been executed and possession of the premises has been restored to the landlord; or b. The tenant has given written notice that he or she is voluntarily relinquishing possession of the premises. The provisions of P.L.1999, c.340 (C.2A:18-72 et al.) shall not apply to the disposal oftenant property left on nonresidential rental property if there is a lease in effect which has been duly executed by all parties which contains specific terms and conditions for the disposal oftenant property. L. 1999,c.340, s. 1; amended 2001, c.51. 2A: 18-73. Notice to tenant prior to disposition 2. To dispose of a tenant's property under this act, a landlord shall first give written notice to the tenant, which shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested or by receipted first class mail addressed to the tenant, at the tenant's last known address (which maybe the address of the premises) and at any alternate address or addresses known to the landlord, in an envelope endorsed "Please Forward." "Receipted first class mail" for purposes of this section means first class mail for which a certificate of mailing has been obtained by the sender but does not include certified or registered mail. When the property subject to disposal is a manufactured or mobile home, a copy of the notice required pursuant to this section shall also be sent to the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles and to any lienholders with security interests in the property which have been recorded with the Division of Motor Vehicles. L.1999,c.340,s.2 2A:18-74. Contents of notice 3. The notice required under section 2 of P.L.1999, c.340 (C.2A:17-73) shall state as follows: a. That the property is considered abandoned and must be removed from the premises or from the place of safekeeping, if the landlord has stored the property as provided in section 4 of P.L.1999, c.340 (C.2A:17-75), by a date as follows; (i) for all property other than manufactured or mobile homes not less than 30 days after delivery of the notice, or not less than 33 days after the date of mailing, whichever comes first, or (ii) for property which consists solely of manufactured or mobile homes, not less than 75 days after the delivery of the notice, or not less than 78 days after the date of mailing, whichever comes first, or the property will be sold or otherwise disposed of; and b. That if the abandoned property is not removed: (i) The landlord may sell the property at a public or private sale; or (ii) The landlord may destroy or otherwise dispose of the property if the landlord reasonably determines that the value of the property is so low that the cost of storage and conducting a public sale would probably exceed the amount that would be realized from the sale; or (iii) The landlord may sell items of value and destroy or otherwise dispose of the remaining property. c. That in the case of a residential tenant, if the tenant claims the property within the time provided in the notice, the landlord must make the property available for removal by the tenant without payment by the tenant of any unpaid rent. L. 1999,c.340,s.3. 2

FAQs

When can a landlord dispose of remaining tenant personal property in New Jersey?

A landlord may dispose of tangible goods and personal property left on premises only if the landlord reasonably believes the tenant left it with no intention of further claims, and either a warrant for removal has been executed with possession restored, or the tenant provides written notice voluntarily relinquishing possession.

What notice must a landlord give before disposing of the tenant’s property?

The landlord must first send written notice to the tenant using certified mail with return receipt requested or receipted first class mail, to the tenant’s last known address and any known alternate address, in an envelope endorsed “Please Forward.” For manufactured or mobile homes, the landlord must also send a copy to the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles and any recorded lienholders.

How are abandonment deadlines and storage requirements determined?

The notice must state the removal deadline based on the type of property and the mailing/delivery date, and explain what happens if the tenant does not remove the property. After notice, the landlord must store the property in a place of safekeeping and exercise reasonable care, with allowances for promptly disposing of perishable food and for animal control/humane society removal of abandoned pets or livestock.

Sep 16, 2026

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