How to remove someone's things from my garage

Agree consult a solicitor before you do anything, but perhaps before a legal letter is sent send a firm letter from you, perhaps giving the month's warning.

There must be a reason behind this odd behaviour. Does the person in question ever come to the garage and look at the stuff or is it just hoarding.? Does he or she have relatives you could talk to?

There's advice from a High Court Officer here www.thesheriffsoffice.com/articles/abandoned-items

Listen to GSM. She knows what she is talking about. Do not attempt to do anything on your own. Put it into the hands of a solicitor.

GSM is it worth "winterbaby* checking her household insurance to see if she is cover for legal costs?

cover covered

She could take a look at the policy Daisy but that sort of cover is generally for defending an action rather than acting proactively, taking advice and getting a letter written.

Thanks GSM.

Hi Winterbaby ,
Excellent advice here .
What a b----y cheek !
Tempting to chuck the stuff out , but there's the possible legalities to deal with

Perhaps the person is mentally challenged in some way or has dementia .

I think that I'd phone and write a great deal until something is done .

For over a decade ,I've allowed a neighbour to park across my drive .

At first ,I was wonderful .

Then annoyance ensued - if someone else used "his "parking space .

Last year on the way home from the hospital I was taken ill .A friend had to collect me .
It passed , but I didn't want to vomit or faint in the street .
I saw him briefly and waved as I dived into the house .
He sent me the vilest of texts and has sulked ever since .

Germanshepherdsmum

She could take a look at the policy Daisy but that sort of cover is generally for defending an action rather than acting proactively, taking advice and getting a letter written.

Worth checking. When we sued the NHS for negligence it was via our legal insurance as recommended by our solicitor.

I would get advice from a solicitor and give a date that their possessions WILL be removed.

Good luck.

Consult a solicitor follow their instructions and see if you can get the cost back from the people involved. I know little about these matters but it does seem unfair that you should be out of pocket cleaning out their belongings. Follow what GMS says she has the right knowledge.

Get a lawyer to send a letter with ultimatum:

"Remove your stuff from Winterbaby's garage by 01/0802022 or it will be sold to a house clearance firm forthwith."

01/08/2022

A number of years ago I rented my empty garage ( in a block ) to a local businessman who came with references . A small carpet cleaning business, to store 3 carpet cleaners and safe enclosed shampoo containers. I made up from internet a contract , all was well for 4 months . Rent stopped , I rang said man , he had sold his business to a work colleague, given my keys to him , I demanded the garage be emptied and keys returned . It took weeks and it was a nightmare , I asked for help from environmental health but they said it was a private matter and would not help . Told me I'd have to pay removal firm . It took months for the second man to empty my garage and it was an awful time as he continued to fill it with rubbish. Eventually he emptied it . I was too exhausted upset and worried to pursue legal stuff and decided never again. The garage is still empty .

My story is different but I do feel you need a solicitor to give written notice . I wish you all the very best .

People take advantage sadly

Gosh what amazing advice which has given me a lot of confidence. Indeed this person I now realise (having given him the benefit of the doubt) is a hoarder and has problems. Certainly he can't cope with the situation and all the stuff (it came from a house he used to live in before moving to something smaller and also his own parents' - must be 40 or 50 years'-worth ). Occasionally he looks at it, says he is going to do something about it, and closes the garage door on it again. He is totally in denial but I can't let that be my problem. I have been tempted to remove it myself but you have kindly confirmed there could be legal ramifications. I will have a last attempt at getting him to see sense but if not will certainly have to take the legal route. So grateful to you all.

Give some people an inch & they take a mile ... taking advantage of your mom, now your generosity in using storage for nothing ... what a cheek ... although makes you feel like chucking it out ... go through the correct way ... such as a solicitor ... if anything happens you don't want to be liable for damage ... could be anything in there ... please let us know how you get on please ...

Goodness me , how dare they !!!!!
Get a solicitor ASAP. The owners of this stuff may indeed have a hoarding
Problem - but that is not your problem! I wish you good luck and can understand how stressful this situation is for you.

It is obviously going to cost you, in both paying for a solicitor and probably having to pay someone to remove and dispose of the stuff, but I feel it will be money well spent. Maybe one final polite written request first?

This is what we did with DD2 ex stuff:

Your belongings are stored in secure hut. Combination of lock is .... You have 7 days from ...... till ...... following which the hut will be demolished and put in the skip which is arriving on ......

He collected them.

Maybe give a date for them to be gone or you will put them on the drive and stick to it. If you have to put on the drive then give a date they need to uplifted or you will arrange for them to be removed. Lots of people advertise uplifting junk. What a cheek they have!

You can get legal advice online perhaps?

I would be tempted to change the locks though, as is presumably your right as it is your property to stop anything else being added.

Be careful what you say in your last ditch attempt to get rubbish-owner to remove it. Those words could convey some kind of right that the solicitor could warn you against.
Also, whatever you do, don't move things onto your driveway or nearby, as they might be left there for another five years! With you being unable to get into your garage, plus liable (to council or neighbours) to have it removed!
And don't make any assumptions about what's been left in the garage; there could be noxious stuff, flammable stuff, etc; which could cost extra to be removed.

If you write to the rubbish-owner then (I'd say) tell them you will be "taking legal action", at their expense, if their items not removed by (date). Let them know you mean business, and cross your fingers.
Then use the time to read any policies that might contain legal coverage, so that when the time is up (or before) you can consult a bona fide solicitor and get that letter written. It should not only give a date for items to be removed, but also let them know that they will be charged for removal on that date plus storage/destruction charges. Obviously the solicitor will advise on what you can and can't do, and how best to manage the process.
You can decide at some point whether you just want the advice and that one letter, or more comprehensive assistance, from the solicitor.
Good Luck

I am so pleased you are a Gransnet member GSM.
If I happen to read a piece of legal advice written by you in response to another poster’s problem I try to make a mental note of your advice just in case I should find myself in a similar situation, so thank you for all the assistance you have given!

You’re very kind, thank you!

Take legal advice.

Excellent advice. I think my mil’s neighbour is cheeky enough, he uses and fills up her gardening bin which she pays for, so her gardener or myself and dh can’t dispose of her garden waste. (We hid it in the end as it was in her front drive way before)

Esmay my lord, what a piece of work, did you remove parking rights? I hope so!

Winterbaby what an absolute nuisance, though it sounds like they are a mix of mentally ill and a pain in the a%#e. GSM as usual has spot on advice. Must be ever so tempting to hire a skip and put it in the dump though!