Aibu to think this may have ruined a friendship?

[Barobee]

TL;DR friend’s boyfriend won’t get his car out of my garage and it’s pissing me off.

Longer version: two years ago a good friend asked if her boyfriend could store his car in my garage. It was supposed to be for three months max as he had just exchanged on a house so would be able to store it in his new house’s garage once it had completed.

I said yes as she’s a good friend and I don’t mind being helpful.

Two years on and the fucking car’s still there. I texted at the beginning of June to ask if it could be moved by mid June because I wanted to paint the garage and turn it into a room where DC could hang out a bit. Friend said she would tell him he needed to move his car. Two weeks later, at friend’s suggestion as he had shown no interest in collecting the car, I texted again to ask when he was coming. No joy.

I’ve just texted again today and said if it’s easier can she just give me his number so I can deal with him directly. Now the reply is that she’ll give me his number later because she’s got another child visiting.

At first I was annoyed at him, partly because I sometimes think he treats friend quite badly, but now I’m beginning to think that they are both taking the piss (him more than her) and this is going to impact badly on our friendship. AIBU and what can I do?

Give yourself some wiggle room. If you need it gone by Tuesday night tell him Monday night in case he doesn't show when he says.

You've done him a massive favour in providing 21months of free storage over and above the agreed 3.

He doesn't have any need for you to make this any easier for him.

www.lawyers.com/ask-a-lawyer/real-estate/do-i-have-the-legal-rights-to-charge-storage-fees-on-vehicles-left-on-my-property-1634967.html

I've just had a look at this site, and unfortunately it seems to be US-based. So any advice or answers it offers would only apply to the law in the US, not the UK.

I would explain that it needs to be out by x date (a week before the plasters coming). If it's not removed, you'll get the scrap man to take it. I think they are taking the mickey out of you so why be nice? Tell them how it so give a deadline, and a consequence.

I’m going to say that it would have cost him £40/month to store the car in a normal garage... and then leave that hanging to see if he says anything.

Text him first, then you have proof you have asked him. If he does not reply within 24 hours follow up and say you will b3 having 5he car moved to the nearest street and you will let him know the location. Do not apologise for asking; and as for the friend - better off without her. You deserve more than the way she has treated you.

I need to know today what’s happening because I may need to postpone the handyman

WTAF?!!!! I know you've got his number now op - but you actually said THAT?!

You really need to be more assertive!

Social housing/council garages round my way are £10 per week, so the additional time you've given him has a value of around £900. That's before you even get into commercial/private tenancies.

Would you let a friend off on repaying you that if you had loaned it?

I know, I know. I’m just crap at things like this.

Well, this is a good person to practice getting better at it.

That’s very true, Bernadette.

Grow a backbone, ring your friend and say very firmly the car must be out by Monday or it's getting towed to the scrap yard and it's your responsibility to tell him.
My first husband hoardes in other peoples garages and homes as he doesn't have a permanent residence he travels a lot and takes the piss so much he's been known to fill a "friends" garage or spare room for 5 years.
They ring me to beg for help and my standard reply is that clearly he is taking the piss, throw all his stuff out on the street and ring him and tell him to get it.
They are all so terrified of offending him (God knows why) they never do anything.

What are the chances of the OP being able to get this CF to pay for tow costs though? Anyone know?

You need to stand firm. Tell him that the car needs to be gone by a certain date as you’ve got a team of decorators coming. Tell him that if he doesn’t get the car then you will get it removed and he will be billed. Your friend is clearly enabling him by saying things like, “oh she’s my best friend, don’t worry about it, I’ll just text her.”
The car needs to go ... your friends are using you.

Tell them you will be charging rent from today.

Honestly just send a very to the point message (or bloody phone him and leave a voicemail if possible!!).

"Hi, your car needs to be out of my garage by Tuesday or it will be towed away. Thanks."

If you tell him it would usually cost £40 a month he might offer to pay you but you want the bloody thing gone!

You don't need to say anything about cost to store in garage, YOU dont need to justify yourself, HE does. Be assertive. Clearly state when he needs to collect car by otherwise when your workman come they will have to bump it out on the street. Seriously, if you don't you'll be taken for a mug once again!

"Hi CarTwat, just to let you know I've workmen coming so you will have to remove the car by Tuesday. See you soon!"

Then he'll text saying he can't, so you say

"I'm sorry to hear you can't collect the car. I've spoken to the workmen and they are going to shunt it out of the garage and a little further down the road so you can collect it when convenient

Don't bother talking about monthly fees, you've no way to make him pay and it just overcomplicates things. It's obvious you've provided a service he'd otherwise have had to pay for, that's why he asked you to store the car in the first place. Keep it firm but simple

Tow it to her house.

We pay £60 a month to rent a garage. Send him a bill.

Don’t mention money.

Stick to your main objective which is getting rid of the car do that YOUR KIDS can use the garage!

“Workmen starting on xx date, this can’t be re-arranged. If the car is not gone by (the day before) I will need to break the window and push it into the street. Let me know when he is coming to collect it, thanks! “

Are you honestly prepared to Shilly shally around,wasting work people’s time (like they can aFford that at the moment!) and deny your kids use if the space?

The message I have suggested is not hostile, confrontational, unreasonable or unfriendly, just factual.

You can do it.

I agree with PP's tell him if he doesn't move it by Xx date you are getting it towed.

It's your garage so clearly you've got every right to have it clear of someone else's car. Unfortunately it would have been much easier had you got him to move it after the 3 months was up. As you didn't say anything from then til early June, that implied you weren't really bothered about having the car moved. I wouldn't start off with a grumpy message but don't be a doormat either:

Hi X, I messaged Y at the start of the month to explain that I need the garage back as we're having some work done which we need to get on with. Please can you arrange to have it collected and moved by [Tuesday].

Thanks,

That's firm but not needlessly grumpy. Save that for when you need to be.