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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Storage facility for SIL

49 replies

haveyourcakeandeatit · 12/07/2022 21:48

We have been storing 6 large plastic containers in our cellar for the last 4 years for my SIL. We're due to move house in the next couple of weeks to a house with no cellar and the attic isn't boarded. So basically all of our stuff from the cellar and attic will need to go into the garage (which isn't massive) I'm so tempted to ask her if she'd like her stuff back or at least some of it. The thought of having to store it again is annoying me (she lives in a 2 bed house with searingly no loft space) what would you do in this situation?

OP posts:
Dic · 12/07/2022 21:48

Give it back to her

Cornishmumofone · 12/07/2022 21:49

I'd ask her to take it. If she hasn't needed the stuff in the last 4 years will she ever need it?

Isseywith3witchycats · 12/07/2022 21:50

just tell her you cant store it any longer and ask her what she would like doing with her stuff choices she takes it back or it goes to the tip or charity shop if she hasnt needed it in four years cant be the important and four years is CF territory

Iloveacurry · 12/07/2022 21:53

If she’s never asked for it or used any of it, she obviously doesn’t need or want it. Give it back to her to get rid of.

Meraas · 12/07/2022 21:54

Don’t ask her, tell her!

Tell her there’s no space in the new place and she needs to collect her stuff by the end of the week.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 12/07/2022 21:56

Assuming she is your husbands sister I'd get him to text her and say that as you are moving it needs to go - and thay she needs to collect it by the end of the weekend.

Mellowyellow222 · 12/07/2022 21:56

When my parents moved we dumped a lot of stuff my brother, sister and I had been storing at their house.

Realistically if she hasn’t needed it in four years she will never need it.

what is it? Does it have sentimental value?

Honeyroar · 12/07/2022 21:58

I’d use the move as your excuse -
“we’re just packing all our stuff from the cellar for our move. Could you come and collect what’s yours before we move, as there’s no cellar at the next house..”

AllFreeOwls · 12/07/2022 22:02

I'd be telling her she needs to collect it before you move as you don't have room to store it in the new place.

DisforDarkChocolate · 12/07/2022 22:04

Just take it to her.

Original poster
haveyourcakeandeatit · 12/07/2022 22:09

haveyourcakeandeatit · 12/07/2022 21:48

We have been storing 6 large plastic containers in our cellar for the last 4 years for my SIL. We're due to move house in the next couple of weeks to a house with no cellar and the attic isn't boarded. So basically all of our stuff from the cellar and attic will need to go into the garage (which isn't massive) I'm so tempted to ask her if she'd like her stuff back or at least some of it. The thought of having to store it again is annoying me (she lives in a 2 bed house with searingly no loft space) what would you do in this situation?

Sorry forgot to mention, it's all baby stuff. Toys, clothes and a very big Sylvanian family house. She's saving it for her daughters children but she's early 20's so does that mean we're bloody stick with it til then.

OP posts:
vipersnest1 · 12/07/2022 22:18

@haveyourcakeandeatit, no, it doesn't.
Tell her you're moving and you can't keep it for her any longer. It's up to her what she does with it. Ultimately, if the day before you move, she hasn't made arrangements for it, dump it on her doorstep.
You need to be a lot tougher with her - she's taking advantage of you.

Iloveacurry · 12/07/2022 22:20

Her DD will not want it!

LoudingVoice · 12/07/2022 22:22

No you’re not stuck with it for 20+ years, just tell her that you’re moving, have no room to store it in the new house and she needs to collect it by X date - don’t ask her, be direct and factual.

allboysherebutme · 12/07/2022 22:24

I'd say I'm sorry as we are moving and won't have a cellar we will have to drop your stuff off.
You've stored it long enough, it's her problem not yours, you helped when you could. If she needs to she will have to use a storage unit.

WishILivedInThrushGreen · 12/07/2022 22:24

No, you're not stuck with it as she will be taking it all back.
You just tell her that you're moving and don't have the space.
It's her problem, not your's.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 12/07/2022 22:26

Just say your new house doesnt have a cellar or loft so you cant store it any longer and when does she want it dropping off - will have to be x date at the latest

Tiani4 · 12/07/2022 22:32

Meraas · 12/07/2022 21:54

Don’t ask her, tell her!

Tell her there’s no space in the new place and she needs to collect her stuff by the end of the week.

Absolutely 100% this

Don't ask, tell.

She comes to collect it or you will need to put it up freecycle local website as you are packing up your house for house move and need it gone asap.

It's ridiculous that you are storing this for her. She can purchase a storage unit for £30 a month to store it in instead (I bet it becomes less valuable to her if she has to pay to store it!!) - please don't take her crap with you to your new house.

Tiani4 · 12/07/2022 22:34

Definitely give her 5 -7 days to move it though or she'll keep putting it off. As packing a house up is hard you get let other peoples junk get in the way...

Craftybodger · 12/07/2022 22:36

Don’t ask her, TELL HER! Or even deliver it to her. Make it her problem not yours. Do it now, don’t wait til moving day. If she won’t engage then give her a deadline and say after that you’ll be offering it on Facebook to whoever can collect.

Ragwort · 12/07/2022 22:36

You are not 'stuck with it' ... don't be so passive. Just tell her, you are moving and have nowhere to store it. It's her problem to sort out (& I seriously doubt her DD will want the stuff, my MIL has 'saved' things from DH's childhood for our child ... one or two books were nice for sentimental reasons but we really didn't want or need anything else.)

WinterMusings · 12/07/2022 22:38

Ooooh I'd LOVE to put my SIL in storage!!!

you got my hopes up

Jellybean23 · 12/07/2022 22:41

Of course you aren't stuck with it. just say she has to take the crates back now. You've done your bit to help her out.

Jofergo · 12/07/2022 22:41

Oh FGS just tell her your housing situation is changed and you can no longer offer storage.
Give her a deadline to collect before it goes to charity shop.

easyday · 12/07/2022 22:43

Is this your husband's sister? Then he should tell her you have no room to store her stuff once you move. If it's your brothers wife then ditto (though why you'd be storing that in the first place).
If she's desperate to keep it she can pay for a storage unit.

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