Gransnet forums

Legal, pensions and money

How to remove someone's things from my garage

(104 Posts)
Winterbaby Tue 21-Jun-22 00:05:21

Five years ago my mother allowed a family friend to store items in her garage, supposedly temporarily. When she died her property including the garage passed on to me. The items remained and since I did not need the space immediately I did not press for their removal, although I made it clear that I wanted them taken away at some point. At first the person refused and became belligerant, and then earlier this year said they were making arrangments to take the things elsewhere. I believed them and have been waiting patiently but nothing has happened. I now need the garage urgently for storing my own things. The person insists I have to liase with them and demands to know what I am bringing into the garage - clearly intending to only make limited space available even though I want everything of theirs removed. No payment has ever been made or contract signed for using the space although the garage has been filled from top to bottom and front to back and it is not possible to put anything else in there. I want to know if I have any legal right to have someone else's property taken away by a clearance company, even though I resent the financial outlay and am afraid of any comeback as they have forbidden me to touch anything of theirs. There may be some valuable items in there although to me it looks like a lot of old junk. Can anyone advise the best (and legal) way of going about this?

Beautful Thu 23-Jun-22 17:06:05

After the letter you have received ... personally I would show it to your solicitor & see where it goes from there ... you can do without the hassle

Grammaretto Thu 23-Jun-22 16:46:59

I have found a place near me which specialises in house clearances but doesn't throw out anything if it's possible to sell it or upcycle it. Once a month they have a sale for charity.
Could you suggest something like that to the hoarder?
www.nugenwaste.co.uk/

Every item collected by the Nugen Recycling teams will be donated, upcycled or recycled - nothing is sent to landfill.

DaisyAnne Thu 23-Jun-22 15:49:17

When did you get the reply, Winterbaby? Has this happened since you started this thread?

Devorgilla Thu 23-Jun-22 15:20:48

Consult a solicitor, cheaper and less stressful in the long run. Do not destroy that letter as it is proof of aggression and lack of cooperation on hoarder's part. Show the solicitor the letter to indicate what you are dealing with. You owe the hoarder nothing no matter what was done for your mother. Years of hoarding the stuff is payment enough. Make sure you have people with you when the stuff is collected so that none of yours goes missing. I wouldn't delay any longer as it is causing you stress and withdraw all offers to help. Change the locks when all over. And don't engage with said person as it sounds dangerous.
If all else fails, go for the nuclear option by either selling the flat and garage or renting the garage to a third party who will insist on clearance or rent.

ElaineI Thu 23-Jun-22 15:16:00

Oh my word! Definitely a solicitor's letter and when you do start clearing the stuff either get someone who does that sort of thing as a living or have some strong men to help you. This person seems aggressive and intimidating and possibly dangerous. Poor you xxxx

AmberSpyglass Thu 23-Jun-22 15:03:33

Solicitor’s letter telling him he has two weeks to get rid of it or you’re having it chucked and charging him for it. If he responds similarly, tell him it’s harassment. You owe him absolutely nothing, the nasty piece of work.

Germanshepherdsmum Thu 23-Jun-22 13:31:29

You should have got the solicitor to write the letter.

Shandy57 Thu 23-Jun-22 13:25:02

OMG, be careful.

Winterbaby Thu 23-Jun-22 13:20:02

So to continue the story - on consultation with a solicitor I was told to simply write initially giving him notice and a date on which to remove his possessions and saying that otherwise I would have no alternative but to do it myself. Since there was no contract I was told I had every legal right to do this as long as I gave him warning. I did not clarify what I would do (clearance or putting it in storage, which of course would be at my expense but eliminate possible comeback for theft/destroying someone else's property). I also maybe stupidly said I would be willing to help, in view of the comments made about hoarding being a mental condition so did not want to cause panic and further digging in of heels.
I put it in writing and this is the response I received (the dashes are added by myself in case the actual words are not permitted on Gransnet!):

'How the f-ck are you supposed to be helping me sort my stuff out. I thought rather it was a case of me helping you
pack up your stuff efficiently. How can you possibly have used 40 boxes already for possesions in a tiny flat. Going by
the way you chucked random stuff into black bags in the garage you don't pack efficiently. You are nuts and have
turned out to be a bit of an unreasonable dictatorial nazi. You are f-cking barmy, I know what your mother had in the flat, where the f-ck are 40 boxes coming from. I will work through disposing of stuff and am sure the garage can accommodate whatever is left. You have an amazing ability not to be able to co-operate properly. Your mum let me use the garage. I bl--dy organised her bathroom even moved tiles from the shop. I amazingly generous to her for more than 20 bl--dy years.'

This went on a bit longer but I won't as the whole episode is making me feel rather sick.

Seajaye Thu 23-Jun-22 04:03:11

A solicitors letter on their notepaper is much more likely to have an effect on the person than sending your own notice, which may be ignored, given the person's conduct to date. You may end up having to clear the garage yourself either way, but a solicitor can advise you of if there is any risk of a counterclaim.

lemsip Wed 22-Jun-22 19:21:39

I would give them a date when the 'stuff 'has to be completely cleared ..It would be disposed of the day following the date given.......I think that is legal..... maybe a date six week ahead !

Charleygirl5 Wed 22-Jun-22 19:03:37

My first thought would be to physically remove it and dump it all outside but I am aware that really a solicitor should be contacted.

You will end up paying for everything especially the clearance company but at least eventually you will have free space.

Bluesmum Wed 22-Jun-22 18:55:57

Unfortunately, I think you missed a golden opportunity to serve this person notice of eviction of their possessions when the house ownership was transferred to you. You do need to consult a solicitor and get them to serve notice now, without any further delay. When a very dear friend of mine was selling her flat and her shop underneath, she asked if she could put the surplus stock from the shop, a hardware business, in our garage. My husband refused as we really did not have any spare room, but he did find her a garage to rent near her new home. She filled that garage with the stock, and her own double garage and three garden sheds! That was over 16 years ago and she has never sold one single item, it is all just rotting away! The rent she has paid all that time far exceeds the value of the contents!! We would really have been lumbered if we had agreed!

Germanshepherdsmum Wed 22-Jun-22 16:46:37

Another retired solicitor here who has already advised to the contrary.

Redgran18 Wed 22-Jun-22 16:01:43

Retired solicitor here. No need to employ one. Just send a recorded delivery letter saying she has 14 days to remove the stuff or it will be disposed of. Then do it. You have no legal obligation to store it whatsoever

Germanshepherdsmum Wed 22-Jun-22 15:28:50

That’s not the case Kaggi. The ‘stuff’ is not hers, except any of it that belonged to her late mother.

Kaggi60 Wed 22-Jun-22 15:21:59

My friend had the same problem because Mom died she went to Citizen Advice gave them a month then the stuff belongs to you everything in the garage belongs to you really now Mom died. Sorry for your losss

Germanshepherdsmum Wed 22-Jun-22 15:08:36

The point of a solicitor’s letter would be to make clear in no uncertain terms that if the person doesn’t clear the garage by a certain date then a house clearance firm will be instructed to undertake the clearance and dispose of the items without further notice, with no liability for loss or damage attaching to the OP, and that the fees of the clearance firm and the solicitor including VAT will be payable by this person and recovered by court action to the extent that they exceed the sum (if any) received by sale of any of the goods, with any excess being paid to the person.

GreenGran78 Wed 22-Jun-22 14:44:47

As you state that this man is a hoarder you may have a problem, even with a Solicitor's letter.
If you have watched any of the tv programmes about hoarders you will know that it's usually a mental problem, and they are totally unable, without expert help, to make decisions about parting with any of their hoard, which may, or may not contain items of value.
It's doubtful that he has any storage free, so threatening him with a deadline will just send him into a complete panic.
I sincerely hope that you can regain the use of your garage, and put this distressing affair behind you.

Newdawn Wed 22-Jun-22 14:39:17

I would love to know how you get on. I would think you can just give the person notice and then dispose of items but best to check

Newdawn Wed 22-Jun-22 14:37:58

Look up LBC legal hour. You can phone in for free legal advice

Newdawn Wed 22-Jun-22 14:37:12

Testin

NannaFirework Wed 22-Jun-22 14:16:38

Agree with ‘Hetty58’

Ktsmum Wed 22-Jun-22 14:16:37

Check your house insurance, a lot of policies now come with access to free legal.advice

Azalea99 Wed 22-Jun-22 14:16:08

Very much tongue in cheek advice but if it were me I’d love to put a sign on the garage door advertising “Garage Clearance Sale” some time next month!
OK, I wouldn’t have the courage, but it’s a lovely thought. (I totally agree with GSM, btw.). Very best of luck