Jackie Thompson
Worldwide, there are 2.01 billion tons of municipal waste produced annually. This number is anticipated to grow to 3.4 billion tons by 2050. For the average commercial business owner renting to clients, tenant turnover is a lot of work. Most property owners want the transition to be seamless, but the reality is that it can be time-consuming and an expensive hassle, especially if they left a lot of waste behind. Dealing with waste in the proper way can be a major chore. At best, the tenant has been forgetful and at worst, it’s a lengthy clean-up process. If you’re a commercial business owner, here’s what you should do if a tenant leaves their waste behind.
Assess the Amount of Waste Left by the Tenant
For most commercial tenants, their move-out process is going to generate some waste. It’s expected that you, as the property owner, will have to clean and tidy before moving in a new tenant. It may be best to hire a professional cleaning service to do the job, especially if there’s a significant amount of waste and the premises look grimy. Meanwhile, if the amount of waste left is minimal, it’s better to just clean up as a part of the turnover process, donate or recycle old office equipment, and not pursue the matter further. However, if there is a significant amount of waste and other materials left behind, then you’ll have to move onto other options.
One thing to consider is whether the waste left behind is actually waste. Supplies, office furniture, personal effects, and electronics may seem like trash, but they may be quite valuable to the tenant. It’s best not to discard anything that is not outright trash. Document any items that may be of value, even old or outdated electronics, to avoid any legal action.
Contact the Tenant
It’s usually best to contact the tenant to inform them that they have left a significant amount of waste in the building. Take and provide pictures of the waste so they are aware of what’s been left behind. Review the leasing terms for the space to determine if this is addressed in the contract. It may be outlined that there is a fine or responsibility for any waste left behind. If the responsibility is left to the tenant, remind them of this and ask them to remediate the situation. They may be willing to pay for a waste removal company to come and remove the waste. There is usually a time frame in place to remove waste or personal possessions before taking any additional action.
Consider Legal Action
If the waste left behind is significant and it would be prohibitively expensive to have it removed, then legal action may be the next best steps. Talk to a lawyer to determine if there is a case present. If the leasing contract has this addressed, it will be easier to win the case. It’s best to avoid legal action if possible, but if there’s no other way to resolve the matter, then it’s imperative to do so for the sake of your business and future tenant.
To prevent this from happening again, make sure to review your tenant agreements and contract, and update them to address waste if this element is not present. You may even ask for a deposit, or charge a fee for vacating the property to help mitigate these costs. Since removing waste can be expensive and time-consuming, it’s best to find a hassle-free solution that can benefit you and your tenant.