Can I sell something that isn't exactly mine?

Question

I found something in my closet that my roommate says the old tenant left behind. This item is fairly valuable and I could sell it for $100 (I posted it for sale and have 2 offers already.) I am moving and need to clean out the apartment anyway, so is it okay if I sell it?

I never knew the last tenant (my roomie said she moved out of state) and it's a very large and heavy item.

I can't take the item with me. It's huge and extremely heavy. The previous tenant left over a year ago and we haven't heard from her at all.

Returning the item to the original owner (if we even knew where she was) would cost more than the item is worth. I'm telling you - it's so huge and heavy I can barely move it myself.

Answer 1

sell it ,apparently the former owner wasnt concerned with its return or would have come back for it.its yours people cannot abandon property and claim it whenever they feel like it. good luck.

Answer 2

You should always ask a lawyer. However, you know that you don't own it. So its not your property.

Typically selling something that came into your possession lawfully but belongs to someone else constitutes embezzlement which is similar to larceny, except there is no wrongful taking and carrying away.

The former tenant may have forgotten the item and left it behind unintentionally.

Okay probably the best thing you can do is try to find the previous tenant, and barring that advertise it as "found" in the "lost and found" section of the paper. If there is no taker, then its probably abandoned.

Since you don't know if its abandoned or not, you are on your own.

Answer 3

Whatever your conscience tells you is what you do. How long ago did the old tenant leave and he/she ever contacted you or your roommate about the item. Lastly, if in doubt, why not take it with you when you move, since you already know that you can get that much money for it, you may even get more if you wait a while.

Answer 4

The fact that you asked, leads me to think that you feel like you could get caught if you did sell said item.
Most likey said item can be returned to the last tenant. Judging from the tone that you have asked about this, youre better off trying to get in touch with that last tenant, I am sure your landlord knows the address to where he/she moved.
Besides its the landlords responsibility to dispose of and what not with left items not yours.

Answer 5

If your roommate says that a former tennant surrendered the property and then gave it to you, then by all means sell it. If you have knowledge that it was acquired illegally then theoretically you are guilty of transferring stolen property, but for them to back up such accusations givin the situation is extremely far-fetched.

Answer 6

It could be considered abandoned property, so legally, you might be on sold footing. Morally, you need to track down the previous tenant and see if they want the item back. (God's watching, you know.)

Answer 7

morally, not until you've tried to reach the last tenant, but if you can't.
Then ****, sell it.

Answer 8

I would now consider it to be my property (you HAVE been paying the rent on it's storage, right??) so I would feel comfortable selling it.

Answer 9

I am a landlord and if a renter leaves it behind, they don't usually want it back. Sell it.

Answer 10

What you're asking is, will anybody notice if you sell someone else's property.