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.

Biological warfare. It's the only way.

Oh and the thread title... 👌 Absolutely brilliant 😂

I'd start off as though you're not expecting a fight. Just make* sure you are really clear about timescales.* *

I'd be blaming the seller loud and clear and would be sympathetic that the seller lied to you both.*

This is a really good way to proceed. You can turn most things in your favour just by exercising a bit of diplomacy and understanding.

Good luck OP!

Just read the whole of the other thread.

Could not understand why ao many posters were being so obtuse about the fact that people were using your land/garage and expecting you to lump it.

I can also understand that having found out about the garage you would kot necessarily go back to look at just a garage. I might personally have gone to see the allotment but again maybe not.

Any solicitor you instruct should be taking a 2 pronged approach @YaMuvva . They should be asking Barbara to vacate and they should be contacting previous owner to advise them that as they failed to give vacant possession that you expect them to cover any out of pocket costs of having to evict Barbara.

Do update when you have further actual news. These neighbour issues can be quite stressful at the time and amusing anecdotes eventually for you (and MN). I hope it doesn't take too much time, effort and cash!!

Biological warfare 😂😂😂😂

Can someone link the other thread pls.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5047820-hows-this-for-a-whole-new-level-of-cheeky-fuckery-someone-has-token-our-allotment?page=40&reply=134480637

Have you considered offering to help Barbara carefully dig up her plants and take them to her house?

I know you don't have to but as a gesture to keep neighbourly peace.

Wishing you and your DH all the best.
Don't forget to update us with your produce as well as Barabaras reaction

Sounds like a good plan. Glad you're not pandering to a randomer's cheeky fckery.

Love the new post name too 😄

Keep us updated!

Great decision and plan OP.

The seller was an absolute ARSE not disclosing all this to you and not getting her garage and land back from those she let use them before the sale was completed. WTF was she thinking would happen I wonder!?

All those wailing "poor Barbara" on the other thread are bonkers.
It's no different from buying a house with garden and finding the NDN have been allowed to use the garden for years and expect that to continue after the house is sold!

Totes the right decision OP.

Babs - time's up honey! Don't make this harder than it needs to be.

Well done op. To be honest Barbara won't have been able to plant much yet this year so get her off your land and start enjoying it.

Absolutely the right call, Barbara has no right to complain, she's had 10 years of free allotment use which she should be grateful for. All good things must come to an end and all that.

The amount of idiots on the other thread getting their knickers in a twist because you didn't want to just give away an asset which is likely worth thousands is a joke and I can guarantee they wouldn't be such martyrs with their own land.

Oh and of course diagnosing her with all sorts, which is all people do on here.

Also agree this is absolutely the right thing. No point dragging it out. Hope it will be your dh's haven this summer

Good for you! Cheeky mare is Babs thinking she has any leg to stand on in a "fight". Hopefully when she sees you mean business she'll scurry off to her own garden a rebuild her "sanctuary" there. Glad you didn't take any of the "oh poor, elderly, suffering Barbara! Why not be kind?" posts on the previous thread to heart!

Fair enough though i think I'd offer to pay for the shed making her dismantle it is a bit of insult to injury she can then choose to tear it down in spite or just leave it and you can then use it.

I commented on your first thread when I assumed, like others, that this was a council allotment issue. It is clear now that it isn’t, and I think you are doing the right thing. Your vendor, for whatever reason, maybe she didn’t want to tackle the garage man and Allotment lady head on , or perhaps she just did not understand the implications of her actions, is ultimately responsible for both situations, and I think I would certainly ask your conveyencing solicitors to see if there is a way to get back any money you might have to pay out. But please don’t get into an expensive legal battle, you shouldn’t have to to reclaim your own property. Let’s hope that Babs has also taken the opportunity to seek legal advice and realises that she will need to withdraw from the situation and acknowledge that the land is yours.

Best suggestion.

This!

hopefully Babs is expecting this decision and will pack her stuff and go quietly.
please do let us know though

Also on the suggestions about making yourself unpopular with the others, there can be a tendency among folk with Barbara-like attitudes to attempt to "get in first" with some story to make themselves the victim - especially if they know they've already behaved badly with remarks about fights

So maybe be aware that tales about how awful you've been are already winging their way around, and that really it wouldn't have mattered what you'd done, short of giving Barbara the plot

All those wailing "poor Barbara" on the other thread are bonkers

Bonkers or not there are CFs in all walks of life, and there's no reason to suppose a few haven't made their way onto here

For all we know these may be folk who are also enjoying the use of something not theirs - a driveway, an outbuilding, a swimming pool, whatever - and are therefore sensitive around the issue

Excellent decision, you have covered yourselves brilliantly.

All of this nonsense erupted because of the previous owner not warning B that the allotment is sold with the house so she had no time to get used to the idea and had to find out the hard way. Despite this, her behaviour was appalling.

Sounds like you are on track😀

You’ve made a good plan. Good luck! I hope the solicitors are on the ball and get the letter out quickly.

An excellent plan OP. You are being more than fair to Barbara and, honestly, there is one person at fault here and it isn't you.