Ladders - can I get rid of them

[AgathaMystery]

I don't think IABU but here goes...

Recently had a lot of work done on the house. Final job was having the outside painted. We used a man we have trusted before and this time it was a total horror show. One fuck up after another.

Anyway. 3 weeks have passed and the painters ladders are still in the back garden. I say garden - it is a little city centre cottage patio. 16 by 8 feet with 4 very very tall ladders laid across it. This is how we access our home so we & DC step over them numerous times a day to get in/out. We cannot use the yard & TBH when the weather is nice we live out there most days as the house is so tiny!

I've messaged and rung him (11 messages 5 phone calls) to as him to remove the ladders. No reply except once 10 days ago when he said 'yeah I'll take them Tuesday'

AIBU to put them on free cycle?

Wow, you'd think he would have needed them by now...

I would give him till then end of the week then you'll have them removed without profit to you. They're a security risk and a H&S issue for you (stretching it, but you know) I think that's more than fair.

Although I vaguely recall something legal about getting rid of someone else's property so you might want to look into that.

Yes, Freecycle.

If he needed them he'd have collected them.

Tell him that if they are not removed within 3 days (or whatever seems reasonable to you) that you will assume he longer needs them and will be putting them on Freecycle. He will then have had the opportunity to get them.

I'd warn him that if they aren't gone by x, then you will assume he doesn't want them and will put them on freecycle.

Give him a deadline and tell him in the text that if not collected by then, you will give away. Then he can’t say he wasn’t warned.

I take it you don't have a driveway? We had this with a scaffolding tower. After 2 weeks told the guy we would be moving the poles and planks to the edge of the driveway as I didn't want them in the garden any more and so he could collect them without bothering us.

6 weeks later (!) we noticed they were gone. About a month after that he turned up wanting them. Seems the local scrap metal man must have had them. Shame, but he'd had his chance.

Okay. Freecycle it is. I will give him until Wednesday. What's 3 more days after 3 weeks I guess.

Thanks all!