Binning Someone Else’s Shit in My Garage

[ConcreteUnderpants]

I have a garage not attached to my house (in a row of garages around the corner) that I lent out.

The terms were that he could keep his stuff there and instead of rent, he would fix the roof. He would also put a new lock on it as I’d lost the key and let me keep a couple of things of mine in there (that were already in the garage).

A year and a half on, I finally need the garage myself and have enough money to do the roof myself as I can see that he hasn’t done it. Had to break in myself as he didn’t give me a key to the new lock (haven’t seen him since I first let him have the garage).

It is full of his shit. Apparently (from a man I saw opening his own garage a few doors up), he visits it every few weeks.
Not sure what to do. I am assuming that the stuff in there now belongs to me. It is worth a fair bit (car parts and tools etc) but I don’t want the hassle and expense of getting a skip and clearing it out. Do I leave a note on the door saying you have 2 weeks to clear all your shit out before I bin/ sell it? Do I ‘accidentally’ leave the door open and hope it gets nicked? Advice welcome please.

Basically AIBU to give him a fortnight to empty it and then chuck it if not? I am a bit scared of reprisals if I do this.
I need the storage in a few weeks.

Collaborate has already mentioned the relevant law. I strongly advise you to read up on that and ignore the other posters who are giving bad advice, such as “no tenancy agreement/contract, do what you like.”

@TwentyViginti

He may well be using the garage as a lock up for stolen goods. Tricky.

One decent thing if it is stolen goods, he can't exactly go to the police or prove ownership if Op removes them.

I'd get neighbour round asap, and potentially put it in the hands of the police. Explain you thought you were doing an acquaintance a favour but it appeared hes been using your garage for stolen goods.

Yep, lessons learned. You were an idiot. BUT, it doesn’t negate the fact that you have an issue.

New lock on
Note on garage door - items will be removed/ taken to the tip by 31st July
He doesn’t come and knock on your door, then pics of items and a trip to the tip.
In the meantime try to find him / find that business card (next time pic of BC)

I'd have just binned his stuff personally. Yes I know you will all say I can't just do that but if it was my garage I would have.

Me too.

I'd have just binned his stuff personally. Yes I know you will all say I can't just do that but if it was my garage I would have.

You’d then have to prepare yourself to be sued and to pay for the cost of replacing the items.

It’s a lot of hassle and expensive to sue someone because they’ve thrown away your junk that they were storing for free. I think this an extremely unlikely eventuality and he’d be likely to lose, especially as he has reneged on his side of the agreement. Struth, this is why I’ve given up posting on AIBU. Ghandi would be accused of BU. 😂😂

That is another point. If there is no paper work between Op and him, How can he prove his (giving the benefit of the doubt its genuinely his and not stolen) goods were in Ops garage and Op removed them?

Op did you get the neighbour round?

No, not managed to speak to neighbour about his tools yet as he seems to be working shifts.
Note is still on the garage door, and my lock doesn’t seem to have been tampered with. Just awaiting a phone call from him...

It’s a lot of hassle and expensive to sue someone because they’ve thrown away your junk that they were storing for free. I think this an extremely unlikely eventuality and he’d be likely to lose, especially as he has reneged on his side of the agreement. Struth, this is why I’ve given up posting on AIBU. Ghandi would be accused of BU

No, it’s really not that much hassle to bring a small claim, and if you read the link to the relevant legislation posted by Collaborate above, you’ll see that in fact he would be very likely to succeed unless the OP can prove she’s made a reasonable attempt to contact him/give notice.