How to remove someone's things from my garage

You’d be best consulting a solicitor or Citizen’s advice bureau, I would think. People on GN can’t give cast iron advice as to legalities. Good luck, I hope you get your space back soon!

I'd start charging them for 'renting' your garage. I'm paying £45 per week to put my possessions into storage while my floors are being done, tell them you'll let them rent it for that.

I'd be inclined to have it moved out of the garage - perhaps onto the driveway - inform them, then see if they collect it.

You could (if you want to be kind) give them a few weeks warning of the clearance and a set date by which they have to collect it.

You have no contract whatsoever with them, so no obligation to store or look after their stuff.

Gosh , what a weird situation , people controlling your property and life ! Grr.
Yes , a letter of notice and a time limit , politely stated .
They're not friends .

If it were me, I think I would pay to see a solicitor about it, and would hope that a strongly worded letter from them would trigger some action.

What a cheek!

Since the agreement was (presumably) an informal one, with someone who no longer owns the property, I don’t see that you are under any legal obligation. The person is taking the P.

I’d send a recorded delivery letter giving a date maybe a month ahead, by which time the items must be removed, or else you will dispose of them. I’d also send an email with exactly the same wording. And the same verbally, if poss, so they can’t give the excuse that they didn’t know.

What an odd situation. It’s hard to think anyone could truly believe they had the right to fill space that doesn’t belong to them. As this person can become belligerent I’d seek legal advice and even ask a solicitor to write to him. It would be worth the cost involved to reclaim both space and peace of mind.

You need to see a solicitor and ask them to send a letter saying that if all the items are not removed by a given date then you will dispose of them and charge the cost of so doing to this person. Don’t attempt to write the letter yourself or to simply get a clearance firm in - you will end up on the wrong side of the law, maybe accused of theft or criminal damage. Do it the right way, through a solicitor, please.

And she knows whereof she speaks!

Make sure you get the keys back as well, or change the locks after it’s all sorted out.

Thanks Maw. Solicitors tend to make a lot more money getting people out of scrapes than helping them to avoid the scrapes in the first place! We don’t bite, honest!

Definitely follow legal advice.
This family friend seems to be presuming on a friendship with your deceased mother to browbeat you into continuing an arrangement which only benefits them, and won't give up without a fight.

I agree with Germanshepherdsmum - consult a solicitor. This should help you get peace of mind over the whole issue.

Certainly get advice as GSM says. It won't cost as much as sorting out a legal mess afterwards.
My mum rents her garage to someone else in the block as she doesn't have a car -and we went through hoops before finally getting her to see that a friendly agreement just wouldn't do. All properly contracted now thank goodness.

I think i would have been inclined to tell her that on this date ALL your items will be dropped on your doorstep.

Inform the neighbour you are getting the assistance of someone else to remove the stuff. Put a note through the door if that makes you more comfortable. As you are are not the local storage company you want it gone asap.

It’s your property now you are not a charity and you are not obliged to accommodate their stuff. You don’t need legal representation just a firm voice and the muscle to move the stuff.

On which subject (frivolously) I have the contents of DD3 and SIL’s loft before they did their loft extension. It takes up about the same space as a small family car but up to the roof (plus stuff in the rafters).
They’ll never take that back - not until they sell up and move to a bigger house with its own garage - and even then….?
DIL joked that he was just going to leave it there but wiped the smile off his face when I reminded him who was going to have to clear the garage- and the loft- when I shuffle off this mortal coil.

Wow ! How unsettling for you and how damn rude of these people who are abusing your kindness. Just for the fact their attitude is beyond belief, I would do everything with the law on my side so that they can't get 1 over on me, because it seems their type of character would love to do just that.

GSM knows precisely what she is talking about, get that letter sent to them.....pronto.

All the best........

You must be a very patient person to have put up with this Winterbaby.

Redhead, there is an entire garage full of stuff - heaven knows what. It can't simply be dumped on the owner's doorstep. OP needs to have the strength of the law behind her, not directed towards her as it will be if she follows your advice. She needs to consult a solicitor, not try to take any action herself.

What GSM said.
People are unbelievable!

Tell them you are going to clear it all out by the end of the week. Do you have hard rubbish collections ? I’d be putting it out kerbside.

I agree see a solicitor. If you sling their things out on the drive and they get stolen or damaged then you could be liable. You could send them a letter by signed delivery advising they have so many days to remove their property from yours or it will be disposed of, but probably best to check with Citizen’s Advice or solicitor.

Can’t understand the cheek of some people!!
Do take GSM’s advice.