1. Purpose of This Policy

Title Apartments is committed to providing a professional, secure, and guest-focused accommodation experience. This Lost and Found Policy explains how personal belongings left behind, misplaced, or found within our apartments, common areas, or managed premises are handled.

This policy applies to all guests, visitors, contractors, staff members, and third-party service providers using or accessing Title Apartments properties.

2. Guest Responsibility for Personal Belongings

Guests are responsible for securing and removing all personal belongings from the apartment before check-out. We strongly advise all guests to inspect bedrooms, bathrooms, wardrobes, drawers, kitchen areas, safes, balconies, laundry areas, and charging points before departure.

Title Apartments is not responsible for personal items left behind, lost, damaged, stolen, or misplaced, except where loss or damage is directly caused by the proven negligence or willful misconduct of Title Apartments, its employees, or authorized representatives.

Maryland law provides certain limitations on hotel liability for guest valuables and property, including limitations where safekeeping facilities are provided and guests do not use them, and limits on liability for certain guest property losses. Guests should not leave cash, jewelry, passports, electronics, or other valuables unattended in the apartment or common areas.

3. Reporting a Lost Item

Guests who believe they have left an item behind should contact Title Apartments as soon as possible using the details below:

Email: info@titleapartments.com
Phone: 301-902-6764

When reporting a lost item, guests should provide:

  • Full name used for the booking
  • Apartment or unit number, where applicable
  • Check-in and check-out dates
  • Description of the lost item
  • Last known location of the item
  • Contact information
  • Preferred return method

Title Apartments will make reasonable efforts to locate and identify lost items; however, we cannot guarantee that any lost item will be found or recovered.

4. Found Items Procedure

When an item is found by staff, cleaners, maintenance personnel, contractors, or another authorized person, it will be reported to management and recorded in the Lost and Found Register.

The Lost and Found Register may include:

  • Date and time the item was found
  • Location where the item was found
  • Description of the item
  • Name of the person who found the item
  • Booking details linked to the item, where identifiable
  • Storage location
  • Date of guest notification, where applicable
  • Final collection, shipping, disposal, or donation outcome

Title Apartments will take reasonable steps to safeguard found items while they are in our possession.

5. Storage Periods

Unless otherwise required by applicable law, Title Apartments will generally retain found items for the following periods:

Item Type Retention Period
General personal items, clothing, books, chargers, toiletries, and accessories 30 days
Electronics, luggage, bags, documents, and valuable-looking items 60 days
Passports, driver’s licenses, government IDs, bank cards, and sensitive documents Handled promptly and securely; may be returned to the issuing authority, bank, law enforcement, or the verified owner
Perishable items, opened food, beverages, hygiene items, medication, or unsafe items May be disposed of immediately for health, safety, or sanitation reasons

Title Apartments reserves the right to shorten retention periods for items that create hygiene, safety, legal, security, or storage concerns.

6. Valuables and Sensitive Items

Valuables and sensitive items may include, but are not limited to:

  • Cash
  • Jewelry
  • Watches
  • Passports
  • Driver’s licenses
  • Bank cards
  • Laptops, tablets, and mobile phones
  • Medical devices
  • Confidential documents
  • Prescription medication

Where such items are found, Title Apartments may require proof of identity and proof of ownership before releasing the item.

For security reasons, Title Apartments may decline to describe certain identifying features of valuable items until the claimant provides sufficient details to verify ownership.

7. Collection of Lost Items

Guests may collect confirmed lost items by appointment only. A valid government-issued ID may be required before an item is released.

Title Apartments may request the guest to sign an acknowledgment confirming receipt of the item.

Items will only be released to:

  • The verified owner;
  • The named guest on the booking;
  • A person authorized in writing by the verified owner; or
  • A lawful authority, where required.

8. Shipping and Return of Items

Where possible, Title Apartments may assist with returning found items by mail, courier, or delivery service.

All shipping, handling, packaging, insurance, and delivery costs are the responsibility of the guest or owner of the item. Title Apartments may require advance payment before dispatching any item.

Title Apartments is not responsible for loss, delay, theft, damage, or misdelivery once an item has been transferred to a postal service, courier, delivery company, or third-party shipping provider.

Guests are encouraged to request tracked and insured shipping for valuable items.

9. Unclaimed Items

If an item remains unclaimed after the applicable retention period, Title Apartments may, at its discretion and subject to applicable law:

  • Dispose of the item;
  • Donate the item to charity;
  • Recycle the item;
  • Return the item to the relevant issuing authority;
  • Transfer the item to law enforcement, where appropriate.

Unclaimed cash, financial instruments, or property that may be subject to Maryland unclaimed property rules will be handled in accordance with applicable legal requirements where those rules apply. Maryland’s unclaimed property program treats certain property as claimable by the owner or legitimate heirs, so Title Apartments should seek guidance where an item may fall within statutory unclaimed-property obligations.

10. Prohibited, Dangerous, or Illegal Items

If Title Apartments discovers an item that appears illegal, hazardous, dangerous, suspicious, or unsafe, we reserve the right to notify law enforcement, emergency services, or the appropriate authority.

Such items may include, but are not limited to:

  • Illegal substances
  • Weapons
  • Hazardous materials
  • Explosives or fireworks
  • Biohazardous items
  • Suspicious packages
  • Items linked to possible criminal activity

Title Apartments may refuse to store, return, or handle any item that presents a risk to staff, guests, property, or the public.

11. Medication, Food, and Personal Hygiene Items

For health and safety reasons, Title Apartments may immediately dispose of:

  • Opened food or beverages
  • Perishable items
  • Used personal hygiene products
  • Opened cosmetics
  • Opened or unidentifiable medication
  • Items contaminated by bodily fluids, pests, mold, odor, or other sanitary risks

Unopened medication may be handled on a case-by-case basis but may not be shipped where doing so may breach law, courier restrictions, or safety requirements.

12. Limitation of Liability

Title Apartments will use reasonable care when handling found items. However, Title Apartments does not accept responsibility for:

  • Items left behind by guests;
  • Items not reported before or shortly after check-out;
  • Items lost before being discovered by staff;
  • Items mistakenly discarded where they appear to be trash, perishable, unsafe, or unsanitary;
  • Damage caused by normal handling, storage, or shipping;
  • Items lost, stolen, delayed, or damaged by courier, mail, delivery, or third-party service providers;
  • Items claimed by an unauthorized person where Title Apartments reasonably relied on information provided by the claimant.

Nothing in this policy is intended to exclude liability where such exclusion is prohibited by applicable law.

13. Items Belonging to Title Apartments

Guests must not remove property belonging to Title Apartments from the apartment or premises. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Towels and linens
  • Kitchenware
  • Appliances
  • Décor items
  • Electronics
  • Furniture
  • Access cards, keys, fobs, or parking passes
  • Guest manuals or branded materials intended to remain in the apartment

If Title Apartments property is missing, damaged, or removed, the guest may be charged the replacement cost, repair cost, administrative cost, and any related expenses.

14. Fraudulent Claims

Title Apartments reserves the right to refuse any claim that appears fraudulent, inconsistent, unverifiable, or unsupported by sufficient evidence.

Where appropriate, suspected fraudulent claims may be reported to law enforcement or relevant authorities.

15. Guest Acknowledgment

By making a booking, checking into a Title Apartments property, or using our accommodation services, guests acknowledge and agree that:

  • They are responsible for their personal belongings;
  • They should check the apartment carefully before departure;
  • Title Apartments will make reasonable efforts, but cannot guarantee recovery of lost items;
  • Shipping costs are the responsibility of the guest;
  • Unclaimed items may be disposed of, donated, recycled, or transferred after the applicable retention period.

16. Contact Information

For lost and found enquiries, please contact:

Title Apartments
4710 Elm Street
Bethesda, MD 20814

Phone: 301-902-6764
Email: info@titleapartments.com
Website: https://www.titleapartments.com