The state you kept the former residence

You are considered a state's residence when you live abroad, if you intend to come back to live in that state. 

Now you kept your former residence as a rental, it means you intend to come back to live there, so you are still a residence of that state. 

Sell the house, we'll analyse later.  

You speak very little about your personal circumstance and yet to expect others provide a full analysis of your situation, it is getting more and more difficult to answer you.