rental problem

My friend rented a property through an agent 3 years ago who has since gone bust.  The tenant moved in signed a yearly contract  but no money was paid to the owner of the apt for the last two years as she was hospitalised 2008 when the contract ran out in February of the same year.  The agent is no longer contactable and he also had no contact from the tenant since then.  My friend had to change the locks and clean out the apartment this year to allow him to re-rent but some belongings where still in the apartment which he placed in a lock-up.  He is at a loss of 5,000 euros in rent, and does not know if that money was paid by the tenant to the agent.  The contract ceased in February 2008 and the only names on the contract were the tenant and agent.  Now the tenants mother has arrived looking for personal belongings and some furniture.  The beds had to be thrown out by my friend because they where left in a terrible condition.  My friend has photos of the condition of the apartment and spent two weeks cleaning it.  He was told that he cannot rent out the apartment by his representatives in Spain while this problem is ongoing.  Could Maria help with this problem.

What is the problem specifically? The beds the owner threw away? The unpaid rents?

Hello Maria,the main problem my friend has that he was told by the company who looks after his affairs in Spain that by law he cannot rent out his apartment until the last person who rented it can retrieve her personnel belongings(clothes,pictures and a wardrobe).As the apt was vacant since early last year and with no contact with either the agent or the renter the belongings where put in storage and the locks were changed.My friend has no problem returning the items but this involves a trip back to Spain.Meanwhile he also has to buy new beds which were ruined and had to be thrown out and the renter taking the other beds.He does not know if the money was paid by the renter to the letting agent either.

Many thanks for replying to this problem,Ciaron.