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.

Who made you the thread police?!

The same question that has already been asked dozens of times.

I was casting Maggie Smith as Barbara on the strength of her wonderful Lady in the Van performance or maybe Penelope Keith as a reverse of the Good Life!

I hadn't RTFT. Would you like me to grovel an apology?

This is the most invested I've ever been in a Mumsnet thread.

Please keep us informed/entertained 😀

Good luck 🤞🏻

@YaMuvva definitely not selfish. It is your land. Enjoy it.

I hope you don't have too much of a struggle getting shot of Babs. Keep us posted 👍

Your response is reasonable and rational, so it will be very hard to argue with. Keep it that way as Bab’s response is based on emotion and not fact.
Those OP referencing adverse possession are wrong, as your solicitor has confirmed (we went though an AP process). Do keep updating though!

The ops Dh has struggled through years of depression and the garden plot is to help his mental health, they were excited about it, so that’s why they bought it. They own it. What about them??

I’ve got as far as Geraldine James as Barbara and Judi Dench as the seller.

this is a joke right?

yup

Just read your other thread Op - it is crazy how some people operate! Good luck in getting it back - you're in the right, so hopefully that'll give you the determination to stare down barbara & not be intimidated by her!

Judi Dench is a good shout. I’m thinking Alison Steadman in there maybe as Barbara.

You’re doing the right thing OP. I would do the same.

The ONLY person that has acted wrongly in this is the vendor. She should’ve made it very clear to both you and Barbara.

My suspicion would be that the land is covered by a restriction which stops it being transferred separately from the house in order to stop a separate market developing for selling of the allotments and risking a developer trying to buy up the plots piecemeal .

Barbara’s going to get pretty shirty about this. I think you’re making the right choice though. Let her take her spuds and go. She must know it’s been sold with the place and that you know. Let her kick off.

You'll have a long wait.

OP has graciously answered people's questions even if they've already been asked. Not sure why other posters are getting shirty when she isn't. Be more OP, eh.

This, and the thread title have made my day! 😄

I would not be taking this route.
I'd be thinking about the heartache I'm causing rather than the purchased right to raze everything somebody worked hard for, like a colonial looking for a chill zone.
Sorry harsh, but I am 100% sure that is also an attitude you will see from your allotment neighbours in coming months/years.

how is that fair to everyone else on the waiting list?

I think you’re doing absolutely the right thing. This is yours and you deserve to enjoy it.

Ignore any of the total effing maniacs on here that will castigate you for not ‘gifting’ the plot of land to Barbara. Because they will… 😂

Do not be guilted into being responsible foe Barbara or her mh... If the previous owner had let her use the hot tub /downstairs loo /trampoline would you continue to allow that? Obviously not.

Sheila Hancock for Babs.

When I dealt with my own CF I got nothing but warmth from my neighbours. Are you always 100% sure on the basis of zero?

and @MrMucker just did.....