What to Do with Your Belongings When Renting Out Your Home
Published: 25 September 2026 • 5 min readWhen renting out your home, first decide whether you'll rent it furnished or unfurnished. Photograph every item you'll leave in the home and add it to an inventory list, then store everything else outside the home. Moving your personal belongings into storage, rather than leaving them in a locked room or the building's basement, protects both your relationship with the tenant and your belongings.
A job offer abroad, retiring and moving back to your hometown, moving in with an aging parent, a transfer to another city. People who rent out their own homes have different reasons, but they all get stuck at the same point. The home is ready to rent, the real estate agent is coming to take photos; so what happens to everything that's piled up over twenty years?
Should You Rent It Out Furnished or Unfurnished?
You need to make this decision before you list the property, because it determines both who will knock on your door and what happens to your belongings.
A furnished home generally appeals to short-term workers, students and newcomers to the city; people without furniture of their own who arrive with a suitcase. On the other hand, your furniture wears out in someone else's daily use. And even if you rent it out furnished, you still need to put your photos, clothes and documents somewhere.
An unfurnished home, meanwhile, is the choice of families who plan to stay for a long time and have their own furniture. Your belongings stay under your control, but you have to empty the entire home. There's also a middle ground: leaving some items such as appliances and built-in units, and removing the furniture and personal belongings. Many landlords choose this middle ground.
Whichever you choose, one rule never changes: photos, documents, clothes, books and keepsakes should not stay in the home.
How Do You Document the Items Left in the Home?
Write every item that will stay in the home on a list: what it is, its brand, model and current condition. Take a photo of each one. This list serves as the inventory attached to the lease, and it largely eliminates the "that scratch was already there" argument when the tenant moves out.
Do the same for the home itself. Photograph the walls, floors, cabinet doors and bathroom as they are on handover day. Dated photos make things easier for everyone when the deposit comes up years later.
Where Should You Store Your Personal Belongings?
The first idea that comes to mind is to lock one room of the home and put everything in there. It makes sense on paper; in practice, the tenant can't use a room in the home they're paying rent for, and most tenants won't accept that. Even with those who do, questions like "is there a water leak in that room?" can come up later.
The second option is the building's basement storage or the attic. Neither is suitable for long-term storage. Basements are damp, and attics heat up like an oven in summer and get cold in winter. Books left there for a few years warp, wooden furniture cracks and fabrics absorb a musty smell.
If no one in your family or circle has a large and dry enough space, the most organized solution is to put your belongings into storage. There are usually a few days to a few weeks between your move-out and the tenant's move-in. In such a short window, having storage and moving planned by the same team speeds things up considerably.
If You're Moving Abroad
If the reason you're renting out your home is a move abroad, things get a bit more layered. You need to plan separately what you'll take with you, what goes into storage and what you'll sell; and also how you'll get to your stored belongings while you're away. We cover this process in detail in our guide to storing your belongings when moving abroad.
In What Order Should You Prepare the Home for a Tenant?
Declutter first. Get rid of things that have sat in the closet for years and that you know you'll never use again; every item that goes into storage takes up space. Then decide which items will stay in the home and, if needed, have appliances such as the boiler, air conditioner and white goods serviced. A tenant calling in the first week to say "the boiler isn't working" is not the start anyone wants.
Next, pack your personal belongings. Keep in mind that they'll stay in storage for a long time: fill boxes fully but without making them too heavy, number them and keep a contents list. For a practical method, take a look at our article on labeling and numbering boxes. Furniture needs disassembly, surface protection and proper packing; you'll find the details in our furniture storage guide.
Schedule moving day a few days before the tenant's move-in date. Once the belongings are out, you'll need time for cleaning, perhaps a coat of paint and minor repairs. Finally, photograph the emptied and cleaned home; let that be your last record before handover.
How Are Your Belongings Protected Until You Return?
The contents of a rented-out home often stay in storage for years. During that time, the biggest risk is mold and odor caused by humidity. Wooden furniture, textiles and books are the most affected. For long-term storage, choose a facility with climate control and pest control. If you'd like extra protection for your belongings against fire, flooding and theft, you can consider the insured household storage option.
At Troy Depo, we pick up your belongings from your home, disassemble, pack and store them in our partner warehouses. When you return or move into a new home, the same team delivers your belongings to the address of your choice. You can find the details of the service on our household goods storage page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I lock my belongings in one room of the home I'm renting out?
It's possible if you agree on it clearly with the tenant. However, tenants usually want to use the entire home, which can make it harder to rent out. Storing your belongings outside the home is a cleaner solution for both you and the tenant.
Should I leave the appliances in the home?
That's entirely up to you. If you leave them, add them to the inventory list with their brand, model and condition. If you remove them, drain the water and dry them out before storing them; you'll find the details in our appliance storage article.
Can I access my stored belongings while I'm abroad?
With private room storage, you can access your unit during business hours; with container storage, access is limited and available by appointment. If you need something from storage while you're abroad, get in touch with us and we'll plan the options together based on your storage type.
How much time should I leave between moving out and the tenant moving in?
Leaving a few days after the belongings are out for cleaning, painting or minor repairs makes things easier. Plan your moving date with this time in mind.
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