Aibu to make my 'friend' move her horse from my field?

[lonelylou09]

Hi mum's netter.. Advice appreciated please.
5 year ago I was lucky enough to take over a field near my house for my horse. I was sharing with someone and then she moved so my best friend talked me into letting her put her horse in the field too.
To cut a long story short I was reluctant as she is very lazy and very tight with money even though she is much more well off than me financially. But she promised to pay her way and pull her weight.
So for 3 years it was just as if expected, with me doing all the work with both the field and the horses and also always having to chase her for money.
So last year I sold my horse and agreed that she could use the field for a year while it was still under my name. She paid the rent to the landlord in advance and moved a mutual friends horse in.
She knew I was devastated over selling my horse and I thought she would let me help out with hers as and when like I had before. I said to her that I would like some form of payment for items is bought but couldn't sell because her horse was using them... Fencing, watering equipment, gates ect.
She said she'd discuss it with her husband and let me know.
So a year down the line and she's not spoken to me once since the day my horse was sold, her husband has badgered me everytime I've seen him to sign the contract over to them while telling me they won't give me any money for any of my things as they are worthless or they have broken them anyway. The mutual friend who moved her horse in unfriended me at the same time and hasn't spoken to me since.
So... Am I being unreasonable to give them both their marching orders?!!
I wish to buy another horse and be in my field without people there how don't speak to me, don't look after their horses and will be a pain in the arse to get the money out of...
I've got other horse friends who will pay me that are no problem so it then won't cost me anything for my horse.
She has technically one week left that she has paid for even though she still owes me money from before.
Just wondering how others view this situation and how to go about telling her to sling her horses somewhere else.
Ta

If you plan to get another horse soon and can afford to pay, I’d go ahead and give them notice now.

Then pay the estate agent and renew the contract. But get them out first.

There are no friends in business. You hopefully have learned your lesson, give them notice in writing, keep a copy and have proof of delivery.
When and if you get another sharer, write out a contract that you both sign, friend or not, things go sour when there are no rules.

if they refuse sell the animals on!

Do not do this completely mad and illegal thing. Good grief, some mumsnetters give the most insane advice when they don’t know what the he’ll they’re talking about.

But yes, if the tenancy is indeed in your name then do tell them to beat it. They will likely need more than a week, but give them that as an initial deadline.

I am slightly confused about the timeline but it sounds like your tenancy is now coming to an end? If so and you want to keep the field for future use, speak to the estate agent about renewing the lease before booting your friend. You don’t want someone else to nab it if your tenancy is going to expire (I appreciate it may simply continue if you haven’t given notice, but make sure of this first).

Ah ok it sounds like your arrangement with the landlord is very formal and documented (good!) but the one between you and her/them is not (unfortunately).
Just give them Official notice ASAP (allowing with current COVID restrictions to show how reasonable you are) and get them off. Even if this ends up costing you in legal fees if they decide to be awkward, and if you end up paying the rent with no financial help from other horsey friends, you’re better off without these CFs.
Document everything.

You need to go to the estate agent or the landlord directly first and renew the lease. After you get that in order, then kick them out.

It sounds to me like you were subletting against your contract with the landlord. When you sold your house and the mutual friend took your place that ceased to be "sharing" and became "subletting". This leaves you in a situation where you may well have squatters if they don't leave when the year runs out. Then either you or the landlord will need to take them to court for a possession order under a private nuisance claim. If the landlord takes them to court then he may well be able to also take you to court for causing him to have squatters by subletting against your contract.
My advice would be to issue to them, in writing, that they must leave at the end of the one year - stating the date. Confirm with the landlord that you'd like to continue the lease when the five years comes to an end. If they don't leave, issue them with a cease and desist.

*sold your horse, not house

This will be the start of the final year of my contract. I've already paid the rent so that covers from 1st June tile 30th May 2021.
Yes I was silly to not put in writing the arrangements between my friend and myself but I knew from day dot they wanted it for themselves so didn't want to have a formal arrangement in writing incase they at some point used that as evidence of subletting.
I have a feeling they will kick up a stink with the estate agents over it but I have so far had a very good relationship with them, even praise that the land was managed so well.
The previous tenant was subletting.. She had several different peoples horses in there changing for each. I haven't done that. But I guess maybe in legal terms it would class as subletting.

Do the estate agents know your ex-friend paid the rent for that year?

Ask them to leave and also tell them about the vacancies at the stables. If there have an easy solution they might co operate more. I would also tell them the field needs a rest. Rest it for at least a month before you put a new horse on it. What are you buying? I’ve had horses. Just being nosey.🐎

I would definitely let the landlord know you think the fields need a rest for a period.

I can't help but feel slightly anxious on your behalf that they might try and do some deal with the landlord or the estate agent behind your back.

Good idea about the rest period. That will help!

They may try to kick up a stink, but given than they have no business relationship with the estate agent and you’ve already paid for a full year I don’t think they will get very far.

Yanbu in that you were trying to be a good friend, and trying to do right by her horse, and she's taking the piss/advantage of your good nature, but it sounds like you need proper legal advice.

Also make it clear to your solicitor and the estate agent that they've damaged things and haven't been maintaining things to your/their standard, in case this has any bearing.

Great advice about the field needing a rest.
I've just been up there to look for possessions and to see what state it is in and it's not looking good. Broken fencing and wire left on the ground, no pooh picking has been done, no weeding. I pooh picked every other day at least and always kept it clean and tidy. I also had it rolled and harrowed every spring.
Yes suggesting a rest period is a great idea although I fear they will use the current situation as an excuse and any delay is bad for me.
I've already told them I've paid for next year and I've had the husband giving me the third degree about it and then deciding by himself that we would just split the cost 3 ways. All I said was I haven't decided what to do yet.
Its difficult as I can't avoid him as he approaches me in work when I'm alone.
I think they suspect I'm up to something as they have suddenly put a new lock on the gate so I can't access the field at the moment other than jumping the gate. My gate I might add 🤣🤣

@DameHannahRelf yes I tried my best. At the time I was working so much and money was tight. Also having issues with my horse bolting and being fed up with always doing everything for them so I had no intention at the time of getting another horse. But I've been so completely shut out and I've missed working the field and missed horses so I feel I'd be a fool to not have a field right on my door step.
If they hadn't behaved so horribly towards me I'd of been happy to share but the fact that 2 so called friends have ignored me since makes it impossible for them to stay.

@HannaYeah yes they have no relationship with the estate agent or landlord. But they are the sort of people who are used to getting what they want.
I wonder if they do kick off what they would achieve as if I did lose the field that way I would do everything to turn it back to what it was.. An empty field with no water, fencing or gates.
Also if they said to the estate agent they had taken over the field.. In the state it is currently in.. I doubt the landlord would want to keep them there... The main concern of the landlord was the land was looked after and the weeds kept controlled.

I would suggest you take photographs of the state they have left it in so that if they do try and take over the lease you can show the difference in care.

Get onto to your estate agent / landlord first and sort it out with them.
Then hopefully they can give notice to vacant on your behalf.
I hope they be on your side especially you have been renting 5 yrs with them I'm sure they will want to hang onto you as reliable renter. Fingers crossed.
Curious what type of horse you hope to get this time?
My splurge would be Arab but my budget is gyspy cob.

Some very good advice here above.

I think you need to tell yourself that you are in the right ( and they are in the wrong) you are in the position of strength.....bear that in mind with how you come across....assertively. (This is what I have to tell myself!)

Do you know a local friendly sheep farmer?....ask him if he can bring some sheep in for temporary grazing - then when you give notice “because I have sheep coming in on x date”

Is there a male presence , family/friend who could be with you for moral support when you speak to them.

“The agreed date is up on “date” and you need to move out on that day”
and when they argue, use the Mumsnet quote
“That doesn’t work for me” on repeat.

I find a shoulders back, chest out and a deep breath approach helps me deal assertively with similar situations (Despite feeling like a little mouse on the inside) 😊

Oh and obviously you take better care of the land that be in your favour.

@ToelessPobble. I've taken some photos but mostly of my items in there, fence posts ect that they have used without my permission that id intended to sell. The husband told me they were rotten and broken and unsellable but I've found most of them scattered round the field, used and left where the horses have knocked them down which is dangerous

They’ve put a bolt on your gate!? Ffs cf! Give them notice immediately, if they moan they won’t be able to go else because of covid, offer up the alternative with whome you’ve already checked have space. Can you get a friend or family member with you when you tell them, it will probably be better giving the notice letter in person as well as signed delivery, they can’t claim they haven’t had it then and if you have support you can’t get bullied by the husband. Be clear with a reasonable deadline and set out what your actions will be if the horse isn’t moved and the lock removed by that date.