Items left behind in flat, what are my legal obligations to it?

If you know where to contact him, write to him giving a list of all the things he's left behind. Also set out what he owes you. Say that if he does not remove his belongings within 7 days, you will sell them and apply the money towards what he owes you. In Scots Law, you are fully entitled to do this (in England it would have to be considered "reasonable")

I used to deal with this quite regularly when I was a retail manager - when people did not collect goods they had paid for on time:

You are required to keep the goods safe, and give the owner a 'reasonable amount of time' (usually 28 days) to collect it. You should do this by writing to the owner (recorded delivery so you have proof), and during that time make 'reasonable' effort to allow its collection. Legally, you can then claim ownership to the property (eg if you find lost property and hand it to the police, they will give it to you after 28 days by law), but to be on the safe side you can do something else to protect yourself:

Following the 28 days you may apply charges for your storage of the property. We would charge £30/day for a sofa, and that was a few years ago now - this stood up in court! Once the charges exceed the value of the property you may sell it to recover your costs (or keep it, which is like selling it to yourself). By doing this as well as the first 28 days you are protecting yourself twice - even if the original owner sues you for the property you can counter-claim for storage costs.

These 'rules' are common law in England and Wales - and because in Scotland most law is based on common law I guess it is very similar. A solicitor is really the only way you will know for sure.

I followed all of that except the part about him never contacting you, its you always contacting him.

I am sorry but in my eyes that does not paint you as a very bright person. He clearly caused you problems yet you still call him.

That has to stop right now.

I would place an add in your local news paper in the notices section. Give him 21days from the date of this publication to have paid his outstandings of how ever much it is and after that he is to remove all of his belongings. If no actions from him to settle his account you will seek legal advice and you will dispose of his stuff, as you see fit.

Dont be over the top in naming him. Maybe say. Mr J Citizen of What ever town. Rather than he full name.

I'm not sure where you stand legally. I would see the CAB or a solicitor. I'm not sure you can just go around selling peoples stuff even though he deserves it. If you're a student and were at the time of the council tax bill they cant make you pay it as you are exempt.

This is a link to the Citizen's Advice Bureau in Scotland: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland

They might be able to help you more. Or you could go to a solicitor, and draft a letter to this guy in which you tell him to claim his stuff by a certain date (give a specific date, give him about 3/4 months), and if not it will be sold/disposed of.

If you have everything down in writing, I don't think he can claim you've stolen anything; you can't store his things indefinitely.

tell him that if he doesn't pick up his belongings by the end of May you will consider it rubbish and dispose of it accordingly.

i think selling the goods would be risky as he could claim you stole them, and then you would technically be selling stolen goods.