Lost and Found

Lost and found is the operational process and policy for handling personal items left behind by vacation rental guests after checkout. A clear lost-and-found policy defines how items are identified during turnover inspections, how long they are stored, how guests are notified, and who bears the cost of shipping items back. Common approaches include holding items for 30 days, contacting guests promptly after discovery, and charging a shipping fee for returns. Property managers should train cleaning teams to check common areas where items are frequently forgotten — under beds, in drawers, behind bathroom doors, and in laundry machines. Documenting found items with photos and maintaining a log protects against disputes and demonstrates professional operations.