If there is no lease, there is no landlord-tenant relationship. The “tenant” is a guest and can be “evicted” w/o any requirement of due process.
As such, the “landlord” should’ve just moved the “tenants” stuff to the curb and changed the locks. The “tenant” would have no recourse because they’re not actually a tenant.
Since they put the stuff in storage, it is now legally considered theft and the “tenant” has recourse against the “landlord”.
I’m not a lawyer, but I’m going to play one on FR.
It is my opinion the landlord has committed “conversion”.
No written contract. No deal, in any real estate transaction.
No deal, no grounds to take ownership of the stuff.
IMHO it’s theft. And probably chargeable.
Consult a local lawyer, I’m betting there’s a case.