CF allotment thief thread no 4 - Babs’s dodgy solicitor and TV producers looking to cast for the role of Penfold?

[YaMuvva]

New thread! Last one was here
www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5049200-cf-allotment-thief-part-3-the-plot-thickens-and-auditions-begin-for-the-west-end-musical?page=38&reply=135136744

So a quick update.

DH dropped me off for my surgery this morning then dropped the kids at school before heading to the allotment. Babs was there gardening as were some other people on their own plots. All her crap was still there

DH went up and reminded her that she needs to be off the plot by the 20th. She said that she is awaiting advice from her solicitor to see if she can challenge us. She also said if the solicitor says she has to be off, she will be gone by the 20th but isn’t giving it up without checking if she has rights first. She did a fair bit of guilt tripping to DH about how she has spent 10 years being part of a community and having a hobby and she now has to give it all up but he held strong and told her, unless she comes back with a legitimate legal claim her property will be off the allotment by the 21st - wether it’s removed by her or by him.

However - enter Penfold stage right

Penfold is what we are calling the allotment neighbour who marched over from the other side of the plots (because that’s who he looks like). He started shouting at DH saying “You’re a bully! Fancy picking on an old lady and taking her allotment off her after all her years of hard work”. He pointed out it’s his allotment now and Penfold said that “just because your name is on a piece of paper it doesn’t give you the right to steal it off it’s rightful owner”. He then start saying “What do you know about gardening pretty boy? These allotments should be for real gardeners not pretty boys like you”

When DH told me this I laughed so hard I thought my stitches may burst 😂 DH IS very pretty but he’s also mid-40’s and hasn’t been called pretty in many many years. We are in semi-rural Yorkshire though and a man wearing a top that isn’t either blue black or white is considered a feminine.

When DH stated he does actually know about gardening, Penfold was all “Yeah right yeah right all you know about is putting your make up on” 🤣🤣 and said how these allotment owners have been around for decades he can’t just barge in and kick people out. DH said he was half expecting Penfold to say “this is a local allotment for local people”.

Then it was BABS of all people who told Penfold to STFU. Not quite those words but she said “oh do calm down Nigel”. The other plot owners just kept their heads down apparently. DH took off in the end but he is considering buying a Danger Mouse t-shirt to wear when he gardens. I’ve told him I can help him apply his make up 😂.

Anyway Babs’s words don’t exactly fill me with confidence but it’s better than flat out refusing to leave I suppose. I’m absolutely confident that legally she hasn’t a leg to stand on, but that doesn’t mean some dodgy solicitor won’t claim otherwise for a bit of easy money off her. Either way unless there is a claim that has legs (highly unlikely) DH will be round on the 21st to set up his stuff. PP were right about insane allotment owners - but we are just gonna have to lump it and not let Penfold ruin our time there.

Are you going to chase him for the cleaning cost?

If you can get an ozone machine it will get rid of nearly all smells. They aren't expensive, otherwise see if you can hire one.

I reckon I can do it myself. I just need to check if the My Deposit scheme allows me to keep the deposit in lieu of rent, pretty sure it does. He's getting nothing back, owes 2 month's rent, place is filthy, sink in the bathroom is broken and has been glued back together! No way is he seeing a penny back. Plus he left all the windows open and the doors unlocked. Good job my DH was off today.

Just let us know you’re OK OP, even if you don’t update! 🌷

At least we have a resolution, even if its of a different matter!

If OP isn't well I don't think people should be hassling her - even to let us know how she is - she doesn't owe us anything!

I'm so invested in this 🤣

OP has had surgery and is having a tricky convalescence. She’ll be back when she’s ready.

The OP had said her recovery want going as well as hoped and that she was confined to bed rest.

She and her dh may well have more pressing priorities at the moment than the usage of the non allotment.

I don't have details, but I've heard that @YaMuvva is as fine as can be expected health-wise and is just taking a little break from here for a few days. So no need to worry and she'll be back when she's ready and will update us then!

Please don't shoot the messenger 😂

Came for an update. <<over-invested>>. Hope OP is ok.

Maybe a little flounce?

so pleased for you Cherrysoup my heart sank when I read your original post as I knowit can take ages ot get bad tenants out.

Take pictures of the state of the place in case he comes over all BabsEntitled and wants his deposit back! Well done, must be such a relief.

It does. There is a process to go through which will be independently adjudicated. You need to register your claim, and provide all your evidence (tenancy agreement, clauses breeched, check in report, check out report, rental statements from agent, photos etc), and get whoever holds the deposit to send it to TDS. The tenant will be given the right to respond, and after they've adjudicated, you get the deposit back.

It is a straight forward, but time consuming process. It takes a month or so.

sending @YaMuvva good wishes and positive vibes

Hope you're ok

Painful. I unprotected the deposit, need to put in a claim but it's not clear how on My Deposits, I'll look later. DH is taking pics later and we have the move in and annual inspection pics for comparison. Sink was not broken on move in, handrail was attached to the wall (!), fence was not completely covered in chalk pictures, no holes in bedroom wall, toilet was sparkling! Removing multiple large items of furniture and cleaning alone, plus replacing the sink will cost hundreds (if we employ someone) and then we have two months' rent unpaid, which is mentioned in the tenancy anyway. We have the deposit, properly register with My Deposits. If they dare whinge, My Deposits need to come to us anyway and we can send plenty of photos/copied messages where he states they won'y pay the rent. Hopefully won't be an issue!

It’s when I read stories like yours @Cherrysoup I’m minded that not all landlords are greedy money grabbing profiteers! My brother in law has had similarly awful , expensive to get rid of tenants . It’s not necessarily an easy ride is it .

I've given them everything they want-new carpet, sure, dog, sure, new decor, sure. Halved the rent at Christmas because he did a bit of decorating, didn't kick them out when he didn't pay rent for months because his card was cloned (dead grandmother, anyone?) Then I gave him more than the required notice, because we frankly felt harassed by the continuous messages from him-drunk, telling me he wanted to kick out his partner, her, telling me she'd called the police due to his violent drunk behaviour/threats. I did say at one point that I couldn't resolve their relationship issues.

I'm cross at the lack of rent given we made a kingly profit of £600 last year on rent, but then paid out over a grand on new carpet! We will have lost over £700 if we retain the deposit, but it's expensive to pursue him in court and I just want to draw a line under it.

Please pass on our very best, we're all thinking of her and wishing a speedy recovery any dying for an update when she's up to it x

I'm so annoyed for you.
I ended up being an unintentional landlord when I got sick and couldn't pay my mortgage. To be fair, the first 2 were alright, but the one who didn't pay rent was a nightmare. I ended up just asking for my flat back because if I had gone down the nonpayment route, they would have been allowed to stay and offer what they could afford for back payment. I had gone to CAB with him to get him help with employer, I went to the council with him when he claimed they weren't topping up his money. Once it was all sorted, he just stopped paying and stopped answering my calls.

The day the baliff came with a locksmith, nothing was packed so I had to give him another week. I was so upset. Why were there holes in the wall? Where did the knobs on the oven go? Where's the toilet seat? It blew my mind because I had always left rentals as good as when I moved in.

TDS let me keep the deposit.

Best wishes to the op. I hope she recovers soon x.
At least the weather is terrible so she’s not missing out on lovely allotment time!

£700 is small claims court money. Not that expensive but what is the likelihood of him having the money to pay?

Hoping the OP is feeling better soon. Hopefully in this weather Babs has washed away on top of her shed out to sea where she can become a pirate stealing other peoples stuff there.

Genuinely don’t know what people do with stuff! The gas engineer went round in February and said he couldn’t do the safety certificate because a cover had been taken off the (brand new) boiler. I was like ‘wtf? Where is the cover from the boiler? It isn’t safe, why has it been removed?’ He claimed the kids had done something, but they’d have had to stand on the loo seat and yanked really hard to get it off. I wonder if he did it, pissed and that’s how the sink got broken, it’s the right place. So mad.