While in the middle of a move, managers told us that the landlord had said "take your time and don't rush." I specified that we would return in about a week and verbally, managers said it was okay. Upon returning to the premises, a week and a day later, all of our effects were gone. Other residents said that the landlord had gotten a trailer and physically removed all of our things. My question is: Is it legal for a landlord to remove our personal things without have issued or served us with an eviction notice? We lost some very valuable things and are rather heated about this...

If you had permission to leave it, no they did not have a right, you can sue them for the value of these items.