CF allotment thief part 2: the Battle of Barbara and the Beansprouts

[YaMuvva]

Hi all, sorry I didn’t get a chance to post the link to this in the last thread, but it filled up too quickly.

So, another update

DH and I sat and had a looooong talk last night. We poured over every option, the pro’s and cons and the best and worst case scenarios. We thought of every possible situation that could arise from each option and we made a decision this morning.

it was actually the best/worst case scenario talk that clinched it.
Best case scenario for selling it to her was we get a little bit of money. Worst case is we have no allotment and the house possibly devalues.

Best case scenario for if we shared the land is that she is a pleasant plot neighbour and isn’t bitter that we are on the land that used to be ‘hers’ and doesn’t try to boss us about. But worst case scenario is that she remains bitter and makes our lives hell, interferes and our allotment space becomes an unbearable place to be.

Best case scenario for if we keep it to ourselves is we have the enjoyment of a long awaited allotment, one that makes a massive difference to DH’s MH and our general life enjoyment. Worst case scenario is that we make a neighbour - who is smart enough to find another plot or use her own generous garden - cross.

We figured that the worst case scenarios for all 3 weren’t worth risking the absolute best case scenario could bring.

So we are kicking her off.

We discussed letting her wait some months before making her leave or until the end of the growing season around about the end of September. But that when you consider the weather, that would mean we wouldn’t truly be able to enjoy the allotment in good weather for a whole year. I know it can still be enjoyed in horrible weather but the thought of missing out on a whole entire summer of gardening, relaxing and recuperating just feels too long. She has also indicated she will fight us - well she can try and she won’t win so I’d rather the ‘fight’ was a short one not a long one

We went to the plot this morning (no Babs in sight!) and took a soil test, took pictures, used that app to mark the plots (thanks to PP for the tips), and measured it and took pictures of the measurements/readings. From what we can tell she has root veg, fruit and a little herb garden patch, all growing fairly well considering the time of year. We didn’t disturb anything

Going to call the home insurers today to see if we can get legal cover and reclaim costs from the previous owner so solicitors can write her a letter - if not we will just instruct our current solicitors and make the reclaim too. I know we could do a letter ourselves but I really think a legal middle man would be worth the money. We will take solicitors advice on how much notice to give her - but it won’t be long notice. No point, may as well rip the plaster off now. We won’t be offering to buy the shed as I don’t want to be beholden to Barbara or have her make out to others that we stole the shed. We want a clean slate, to pick our own items.

I do feel bad that Barbara will be losing something that is so dear to her and that her ‘sanctuary’ will be taken away but the bottom line is it does not belong to her and she has known this for 10 years. She could have spent that 10 years, or even just the nine months since the house went on the market, to find another sanctuary. We are being selfish, we have been through unimaginable struggles and it’s time to just live for ourselves not a random neighbour. If that makes us a pariah in the community I can take it.

DH also messaged our police officer friend of ours this morning who said if the time comes to bin her stuff and dismantle the shed to call 101 and tell them “We are doing this, it’s our property and we will handle everything with care and bring it to her home” and then if she calls them saying we are stealing or damaging our property then we are one step ahead at least.

It isn't actually an allotment, it has just been the term used in the thread. It is just a piece of land owned (now) by the OP.

The original thread is here:-
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5047820-hows-this-for-a-whole-new-level-of-cheeky-fuckery-someone-has-token-our-allotment

NRT previous thread - then yes, there’s no value in sharing

Hmmm, is it West Yorkshire though?
Don't want to travel too far. I found out that (and yes, I know it's only some, not all, before it derails the thread...!!) Northeners like to stay Veeeery local, when I drove from Leeds to Oldham to buy a car. They couldn't stop mentioning how they couldn't believe I'd come all the way from Leeds.

They would be saying the opposite if posted from Barbara’s perspective. It’s their (non-outing 😂) hobby.

I remember that, I think? Was that the series of threads that ended with an invitation to a party and something about stacking goats?

For those unaware, in that case the OP and her family bought a rundown house in the country that came with a field. The seller had let another person keep two horses in the field rent free.

OP gave the horse owner two months to find another place for the horses - and guess how that ended up? But the horses did eventually leave and then many years later the OP came back and said that the field was now part of a conservation project to reintroduce Lapwing

The first three threads are now in Classics and then the follow up thread is still in AIBU:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_classics/1963190-To-kick-these-people-out

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_classics/1975028-To-Kick-These-People-Out-2

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_classics/1994280-To-Kick-These-People-Out-3-the-countdown-begins

and this was the follow up:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4833972-feeling-nostalgic-anyone-remember-fuckyouchris-and-her-fields

Lol

This might be a good suggestion if Babs had been nice and tried to open a dialogue with OP - but her opening gambit was to tell OP they'd have to fight for the land. That doesn't sound like someone who plays well with others!

I am not sure that productivity is the main aim here....peace and quiet is...and that's not going to be a goer with a Barbara there.

@runor firstly, Barbara presumably knew the house was being sold, so she could have prepared for this.
And secondly - why should they share their land and “learn” from her? If I bought a house that was expertly decorated, but I wanted to change the colours and decorate myself, should I suggest the previous owners carried on living there, so I could learn how to decorate?!

@Devonshiregal I assume the difference is that squatters are actually living in the property, so exiting them renders them homeless. Very annoying though.

Well done @YaMuvva
Please don't feel selfish. You're not.
I wonder if prev owner was afraid to tell Barbara to get off the land or told her she could discuss arrangement with new owner. I also wonder if Barbara simply told prev owner she wasn't moving and would deal with new owners herself. Those scenarios might explain why prev owner kept quiet, possibly worrying it would make selling difficult. There are a myriad of possible scenarios, though, but none matter.

Barbara knows she’s fucking chancing it 🙄

I never quite understand why people with big gardens need an allotment.

Once the solicitors letter goes out, Barbara, if she's smart, will start preparing an area of her garden for the translocation of her herbs/tress and veggies.

You could offer to help her relocate things if you think thatll help salvage sone of thevrelationship, but that's only a suggestion. She may well tell you to a take running jump if you offer that anyway!

Your seller had clearly discussed the allotment with Barbara and between them decided she should be left in peace. It's outrageous she didn't tell you about the garage or plot of land. Age is no excuse, she knew but she thought you'd kowtow...

Sending best wishes.

Yes, which is why you must never "abandon" property. You must always be able to prove some sort of active use.

I don't agree that you should pander to Babs at all.

She's had a decade of rent-free allotment use and knew the friend whose plot she was using was selling up.

I agree with you, OP - it sounds like the previous owner kept schtum in the hope you wouldn't notice/care about the allotment and Babs could carry on.

She's been more than a tad pass ag planting for the season knowing the plot is being sold. She's marking territory that's not hers.

At the end of the day, you legally own it and you've wanted an allotment for some time. Now you have one, you should use it. Babs can do what you did and add herself to a waiting list.

Good luck with it all @YaMuvva please come back and tell us how it goes when it’s all over (as you say, not your fault, yes it is sad but not something you caused). Let’s hope theyve had a chance to think about it and realise in cold light of day they can’t win this one.

Ah sorry I see! So it's a piece privately owned land. In that case I don't think Barbara has much chance. Could you reach a compromise, let her use it til she's reaped her efforts, share a section of it if it's large? I know the hard work that goes into an allotment, loved ours, so she will of course be devastated as it's also a little peaceful getaway. The owner should've told her so it's been a shock. I think some understanding from both sides is needed and and a good talk together. It may seem like CF and her hostile response was but she didn't know. You will have this land forever, hope you can all sort it out amicably. Xxx

Just a thought, you don’t think she’d have CCTV up in the shed filming you as you check out your land do you?!

Well done on sorting such a sensible way forward. Excellent idea to get lawyers to do the correspondence. I look forward to your update.

To all the posters saying OP should let Barb have the allotment till the end of the season, why bloody should she!? It’s her land, Barb knew the house was being sold, and there is no way her and the old owner hadn’t discussed the possibility of this happening. She shouldn’t have started putting the work in for this season, it’s her own fault.
I wonder if all these Barb lovers would be so free and easy with their own land and possessions?

Hope you don't expect to make friends there and have a good relationship with neighbours. Social links are VERY strong in the allotment community.

Especially if they know she has been having an awful time in her private life and counted on this allotment for her sanity.

Then one of those other neighbours could do a bit of charity and offer up a bit of their private land?

It’s a shame the original owner (can’t remember the name she was given) sold it out from under her then, isn’t it?!

Very glad to read the update that you’re chucking her off. You’ve been kinder than I would have been. Can’t believe how absolutely wet some posters are being! It’s your land!! It’s an extension of your bloody garden, you don’t just refuse to leave someone else’s garden. People who expect others to just donate land are on another fucking planet, or also entitled cheeky fuckers like Barbara

I certainly think I would have done everything to do this amicably and find out more about her before kicking her out. For her, but also to ensure we have good relations and goodwill with the other allotments owners around.

How can OP expect to fit in well and make friends in such circumstances.