Commercial Tenant Left Chemicals Behind? A Guide for Property Managers

Commercial Tenant Left Chemicals Behind? A Guide for Property Managers

Commercial tenant turnovers don't always go as planned. A tenant may return the keys and remove their furniture and equipment, only for the property manager to discover paint cans, cleaning chemicals, solvents, oils, aerosols, or unlabelled containers left behind in a storage room, workshop, or maintenance area.

For property managers and commercial landlords, chemicals left behind by a former tenant can create more than an inconvenience. Depending on what was stored at the property, these materials may require professional commercial hazardous waste removal rather than simply being added to the building's regular garbage or cleanout bin.

So, what should you do when a commercial tenant leaves chemicals behind?

What Types of Chemicals Do Commercial Tenants Leave Behind?

The materials found during a commercial property cleanout depend largely on the type of business that occupied the space. Automotive shops, contractors, restaurants, manufacturers, warehouses, and industrial tenants may leave behind a particularly wide range of chemical products.

Common examples include:

• Paint, stains, coatings, and thinners

• Solvents and degreasers

• Cleaning and disinfecting chemicals

• Oils and automotive fluids

• Adhesives, epoxies, and resins

• Aerosol cans

• Pesticides

• Propane and compressed-gas cylinders

• Corrosive acids or bases

• Unlabelled or partially labelled containers

The quantity isn't always what makes a cleanout complicated. A handful of unlabelled containers can require more careful assessment than several larger containers of clearly identified products.

What Should You Do With Chemicals Left Behind by a Commercial Tenant?

The first priority is to avoid unnecessary handling. Keep chemicals separate from the general property cleanout until you know what they contain and how they should be managed.

Don't pour chemicals into sinks, toilets, storm drains, or floor drains, and don't combine partially full containers to save space. Different chemical products can be incompatible, so whenever possible, leave them in their existing containers with lids securely closed and labels intact.

Before arranging disposal, create a basic inventory of what was left behind. Note product names where available, approximate quantities, container sizes, packaging condition, and whether labels are readable. Photos can also help a hazardous waste provider assess the materials and determine what may be required for pickup.

For more general guidance, see our article on the safe disposal of hazardous materials.

What If the Chemicals Are Unlabelled?

Unlabelled chemicals are one of the more challenging situations a property manager can inherit from a former tenant. Don't try to identify an unknown chemical by smelling it, opening the container unnecessarily, or combining it with another material.

If a property contains numerous small containers, mixed chemical products, or unidentified materials, professional lab packing services may be appropriate. Lab packing involves assessing, sorting, and packaging chemicals according to their characteristics and compatibility so they can be safely transported and disposed of.

Despite the name, lab packing isn't limited to laboratories. It can also be used for warehouses, workshops, commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and tenant cleanouts. Learn more in What Is Lab Packing and Does Your Business Need It?.

Who Is Responsible for Hazardous Waste Left Behind by a Commercial Tenant?

Responsibility can depend on the lease agreement, the circumstances of the tenant's departure, and the materials involved. Property managers and landlords should review the applicable lease provisions and document any chemicals or hazardous materials remaining at the property.

Regardless of who may ultimately be financially or contractually responsible, hazardous materials shouldn't simply be placed into the regular waste stream. If the former tenant is no longer available to remove them, the property manager may need to arrange appropriate handling before the unit can be cleaned, renovated, or occupied again.

Don't Let Hazardous Waste Delay the Next Tenant

One of the easiest ways to prevent this situation is to include hazardous materials in your commercial tenant move-out process. During the final walkthrough, check storage rooms, workshops, maintenance areas, kitchens, loading areas, mechanical rooms, and exterior storage spaces for chemicals, paints, oils, cylinders, batteries, and other potentially hazardous materials.

Paint and oil are particularly common during commercial cleanouts and may require their own disposal streams. TakeMyHazWaste provides dedicated paint disposal services and oil pickup and disposal services for businesses and commercial properties.

Identifying these materials before possession is returned can help prevent hazardous waste from delaying cleaning, renovations, contractor access, or the arrival of a new tenant.

Commercial Tenant Left Chemicals Behind? TakeMyHazWaste Can Help.

TakeMyHazWaste helps property managers, commercial landlords, strata managers, and facility managers arrange hazardous waste pickup and disposal throughout Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, including Surrey, Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Langley, Coquitlam, Abbotsford, and surrounding communities.

Whether you've found a few containers in a maintenance closet or an entire storage area of miscellaneous chemicals, our team can help determine the appropriate next step.

Request a hazardous waste pickup or call 604-587-5865 to discuss the materials left at your property.