Tenant Doesn't Pay: What Can You Do?

Questioner

Good afternoon, We rent out our garage box. At some point the tenant stopped paying and we didn't pay anything because of other busy schedules. It's been about 8 years since he last paid. He never went to the garage again, even though all kinds of his stuff was there. Last week we cancelled the lease by registered mail and this letter came back with the message 'moved'. We have managed to find the telephone number of the current residents and they also do not know where the tenant lives now. What now? Can and may a judge even obtain someone's address to force them to pay? And are we allowed to sell the items still in the garage?

Questioner

You send him another registered letter, in which you (if you haven't already done so) notify him that he will clear the box at his expense and that he will take and sell the items inside (you still have outstanding claims, so that's possible). Then you have fulfilled your obligations. You may also inform others who can reach your tenant and warn them through other means, though this isn't necessary. You can then sell the items to help pay off the outstanding rent. Your retention obligation then also ends.