Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To consider telling the council?

46 replies

lesley33 · 22/10/2011 14:36

One of my acquaintances/friends who has an allotment has been selling her extra vegetables so that she can get back the cost of the rent to the council. As I have an allotment myself I know this is against the tenancy agreement - which is why the rent is os cheap. AIBU to consider telling the council?

Now I know its hardly the crime of the century. But this woman is generally quite mean. And the issue isn't lack of money. She is single, has a cheap mortagage as the house prices are cheap where she lives and I know is a higher rate taxpayer, so on good money. Her family are well off as well. So the issue isn't that she is struggling financially.

OP posts:
HecateGoddessOfTheNight · 22/10/2011 14:38

I suppose the question is - is she hurting anyone?

Seems a daft rule to me, tbh. I bet loads of people grow more than they can eat themselves. Why not sell a bit.

I wouldn't bother reporting her.

You don't like her very much, do you? Grin

Flisspaps · 22/10/2011 14:40

I agree with Hecate

oneofthosedays · 22/10/2011 14:46

When we had friends who had an allotment, they used to give any excess away, why can't she do that instead of breaking the rules? I'm a bit of a sucker for sticking to the rules, but I also believe in karma and probably wouldn't report myself if she is not strictly doing anyone any harm. It's hardly flogging heroin to 13yo's is it?

Original poster
lesley33 · 22/10/2011 14:47

No I don't like her. She is mean and grasping - but any details could out me.. The rules about not selling is because - the reason rents are so cheap is that is for your own personal/family/friends use. If you wanted to sell vegetables you would have to pay a commercial rate.

OP posts:
RitaMorgan · 22/10/2011 14:48

What harm is she doing?

What is to be gained by telling the council, other than you gaining some satisfaction in hurting someone you dislike?

knittedbreast · 22/10/2011 14:49

do her a favour and tell her your plans, so she make better friendship choices in future.

nickelbabe · 22/10/2011 14:50

YABU, i'm afraid.

the allotment act they information on sellign is here states that you can sell your surplus, which is what she's doing.

h, and the Allotment act is a Statutory Law, which means it overrides any Tenancy Agreement- Statutory law being higher than contract law.

Original poster
lesley33 · 22/10/2011 14:54

She obviously isn't really a friend. She is friends with some of my other friends - so I do end up spending a bit of time with her at group social things. Neither of us have "chosen" to be friends with each other. We don't see each other outside of group things which is why I described her as a friend/acquaintance.

I don't think it would achieve anything or anything would happen if I reported her, which is why I haven't - but I have thought about it.

OP posts:
GnomeDePlume · 22/10/2011 14:54

I'm an allotment holder (and a committee member). I know that in our association breaches of the rules are taken very seriously as they can affect our relationships with our neighbours. So someone selling the surplus could start to upset neighbours if it stops people using local shops. Council allotments are not normally allowed to be commercial.

I know it may seem unlikely but peoiple do gossip and one person breaking the rules could result in everyone suffering the consequences.

I agree that she should give away any surplus and also look at whether she needs to look at what she is growing.

I would shop her!

nickelbabe · 22/10/2011 14:57

but you have no leg to stand on in law, Gnome - even if it's "not fair" - she is legally allowed to sell her surplus.

DuelingFanjo · 22/10/2011 15:00

why does it matter to you so much? life is too short.

GnomeDePlume · 22/10/2011 15:12

nickelbabe thanks for the link. I read it through and am grateful for the information. In this situation I would tell the council and let them decide whether there is a breach. The council would then be able to check that what the woman is doing is within the rules ie selling a surplus and not operating a market garden. They would also check that she wasnt selling from the field as that is not allowed.

In fact my association does allow market gardens as we are not allotments within the meaning of the act. However, there are many seemingly trivial rules which have to be adhered to to ensure that we dont fall out with our neighbours.

cjbk1 · 22/10/2011 15:19

I'd tell the council and I'd feel good about it

worraliberty · 22/10/2011 15:22

Oh this is hilarious Grin

I genuinely thought it was a wind up at first!

It always makes me laugh how many people seem to know 'so and so has a cheap mortgage', 'so and so has a disposable income' etc....

How about 'so and so' might well have debts you know nothing about because it's no-one else's business?

Informing the council someone's selling a bit of home grown veg? Yeah, send for the firing squad while you're at it LMFAO.

saintlyjimjams · 22/10/2011 15:26

I think I'd focus my energies on complaining about something that was actually important. Hmm

worraliberty · 22/10/2011 15:28

I have to keep coming back to read this again cos it's really tickled me Grin

I have this mental image of Little Britain and someone having their Marrows sabotaged Blush

FabbyChic · 22/10/2011 15:31

Mind your own business you sound jealous that she has the wherewithall to sell her produce on and you don't.

nickelbabe · 22/10/2011 15:32

Gnome - yes, i believe the rules change if you're a market garden - your'e then counted as a business. :)

GeorgeEliot · 22/10/2011 15:36

cannot believe OP that you think the woman's financial situation is remotely relevant - and what business is it of yours anyway how big the poor woman's mortgage is.

She is not running a commercial venture, she is selling a few of her surplus veg. so local people can get to buy locally grown seasonal veg probably quite cheap - that is surely a good thing?

More people should be encouraged to do this - and if it means less business for the supermarkets, well that is a good thing too.

YABVU.

MamaChocoholic · 22/10/2011 15:36

how is she selling her surplus? round here, lots of people put baskets of apples/other stuff our with a donation box outside their house. often the donation is for charity, not always. I don't see this as "commercial", just a way to earn a few bob. different if she has a contract to supply your local tesco, iyswim.

worraliberty · 22/10/2011 15:40

Perhaps they should send the sniffer dogs in to seek out contraband smoothies...

SacreLao · 22/10/2011 15:49

I would just leave her to it, after all she isn't harming anyone and it's hardly the crime of the century.

TotemPole · 22/10/2011 15:51

I'd stay out of it.

The only way you'd know the exact, correct details of her finances is if you have access to her bank accounts. I'm assuming you don't.

Plus, the people she's selling to are probably grateful for some cheaper veg in the current climate.

GnomeDePlume · 22/10/2011 15:59

OP I would suggest that you come and ask your question again in the gardening section. You will probably get more considered thought and less ridicule there.

SansaLannister · 22/10/2011 16:01

No, I wouldn't tell them. She'll probably give someone e.coli with the veg and get caught that way.

Swipe left for the next trending thread