Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Washington

Personal Property in Tax Sales

When an improved real property is purchased from a county at a tax sale / auction, does the new owner have rights to the loose personal property within the structures, such as furniture?

According the the law as I read it, the previous owner looses all association with the property as of close of business the day prior to the tax sale.


Asked on 2/10/04, 9:52 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Ken Koenen Koenen & Tokunaga, P.C.

Re: Personal Property in Tax Sales

The personal property is not in association with the real property, and is never intended to be part of the tax sale.

For example, if someone is evicted from a rental, and they do not remove their personal property, there are specific steps that must be taken to store the property and ultimately sell it. If not claimed within a specific time frame, a storage company can auction off the property, keep their fees, pay you any costs incurred regarding the moving and storage of the property, and if anything remains, it belongs to the personal property owner.

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Answered on 2/11/04, 12:06 pm


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