CF allotment thief part 3: The ‘plot’ thickens and auditions begin for the west end musical

[YaMuvva]

Just creating one now before t’other fills up. Will post updates when I have them

Last thread https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5048540-cf-allotment-thief-part-2-the-battle-of-barbara-and-the-beansprouts?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

After Hannah Waddingham told that photographer off, she definitely needs to play OP in the musical version!

I’ve just seen that. She’s a legend and I am not worthy of the absolute goddess that is Hannah Waddingham

Sorry to be serious here for a few moments, but assuming that Babs was aware she hadn't purchased it been gifted the bit of land, you'd think she could have done the sensible thing and put her name down for a council allotment in the last 10 years!

Sally seller was (presumably) not going to live in the same house for Babs entire lifetime so it could have been a good idea for her to future proof herself!!

If you and your Husband still have your name down for an allotment can you tell Babs that if your name comes up she can have your allocated allotment (or so allotments not work like that)?

Either way, it's your land and you should be able to use it however you like. All these people claiming you're basically the Sheriff of Nottingham are mad (and probably liars, as I can't see anyone in real life being okay with someone using their land)!!

Barbara might be your nemesis now, OP, but at some point you're going to team up with her to solve a murder mystery and become unexpected friends.

I have been reading through this with enjoyment in all the comments, and wait with eagerness for a resolution. There has, I think no mention of a particular aspect of usufruct (a word I met in Lindsey Davis, and the next week to my surprise in a recent context.) Barbara will have a corner of of the allotment dedicated to the production of compost, tp her own exacting standards. It would be kind, when you get possession of your own, to offwe to help shift it in barrowloads to her back garden.

Not an actor friend but there is to be filming later this week where I live. The word on the street is Hugh Grant will be around. Do you want an Oompa Loompa for the film OP?

So I actually ran into Rosamund Pike in the loo at Heathrow this evening.

Let out an involuntary gasp and then apogised for it.

However, I couldn't resist calling out to her how much I loved her work. "Great job!" Poor lass did thank me.

@YaMuvva I didn't quite have e iugh time to ask if she'd play you in the movie. Probably for the best!

UPDATE THAT IS NOT ACTOR RELATED

Had the call with the solicitor’s today.

Basically - Babs has no rights. Nor will we need to take legal steps to ‘evict’ her because the allotment is not a residence in which she is protected as a tenant. I could literally go down now and put my things on there and take her stuff away. Adverse possession does not apply here either for reasons previously stated.

However, in the interest of the solicitor getting paid having an amicable phasing out of Babs, the solicitors will send her letter giving her 28 days notice to remove her property from the plot. It’s not a formal notice because that’s not required by law, but a goodwill gesture in the interest of being as pleasant and neighbourly as possible. We are assured this is a more than reasonable approach. It also means that if for example she calls the police if we have to remove her stuff ourselves we have proof from a third party that as the plot owners we have her ample notice.

If she doesnt take this lying down and stages a sit in….well we will have to cross that bridge if we come to it, but essentially she will be trespassing (as she technically is now). In practice this is when it can get ugly and complicated. Solicitor said that Enforcement around trespassing can be ineffectual and the police will only get involved in situations where safety is compromised. There’d be a number of options we could take if this happens but it’s unlikely it will.

The Solicitor says that he’s known of sit ins happening before in similar cases but it’s a rare occurrence and a solicitors letter usually puts the jeepers up people. He said not to worry until the 28 days passes and we can literally see where the land lies.

This means we won’t get access to our own allotment until probably the end of May by the time the letter is written, sent and the 28 days have passed - but it’s something to (hopefully!) look forward to

I think 28 days is fair.

So do l bearing in mind she has zero rights and l thought that from the off

Take photographs of the allotment incase she sabotages it whilst clearing her things away.

Thank you for labelling your update :)

Top stuff OP. Hope your solicitor gets the letter to her ASAP.

You might acquire your allotment about the time I get my new garden (waiting on survey results from our buyer). Can't bloody wait to get my teeth into planting, I imagine you're feeling similar.
Really I hope for your sake she sees sense and clears off quicker than 28 days.

I think 28 days (another month!) is too long, given she has zero rights.
Is it possible that her vegetables could be ready before that and so you just give her enough time to dig those up and then go?

I have to say it was longer than I wanted but giving her a longer grace period means there’s not as much a chance of a tantrum. It also means that she can’t possible have an excuse that for example it’s not long enough to dismantle the shed.

She may have a good collection of veg to see her off so hopefully that will also hopefully stem any chance of retaliation

Great news and I'm looking forward to the next update once she's received the letter!

Good news and May isn't too late for you to plant your own vegetables especially if you start the seeds off indoors.

Thanks for the update OP!

I would 'maintain a presence'... ie, visit the allotment several times, if she IS there, be polite and move along unless you have some specific task to do (measuring shit, or actual dimensions of things rather than just shit), but just subtly apply a weeee bit of pressure, say hi to other allotment users if they are there. Be sunshine and light at all times of course.

And yes, take photos of EVERYTHING.

That way (asides from providing us with updates on which way her deckchair is pointing and how she glared at you), you're making your faces known there, making connections with others there and letting her know that this isn't going away. In my experience, some people can easily shove a letter in a bin or in the back of a drawer and 'lalalalala it's not happening' otherwise.

Are you taking any action against the seller for not giving vacant possession at the time of the sale?

I'm very pleased that you will have access to your land very soon. Enjoy growing veg and flowers and keep us updated on your progress with Babs and photos of the plot during the growing year. Exciting and enjoyable times lay ahead for both of you.

If only we could afford to go on holiday for a month, I’m going to be wearing some sort of disguise when she gets the letter in case of vigilante attacks 🤣
Im thinking a sombrero and fake moustache for me, a Raquel Welch wig and flashers Mac for DH. That’ll throw her off the scent

Did the solicitor say anything about the seller’s liability?

We plan to but the solicitors haven’t heard back from her’s yet! Very dodgy

We have to take it up with the solicitors we used for conveyancing, which we’ve done but to not much avail! It’s been nearly a week!

I will watch with interest!