In thinking my friend has the right to change her locks?

[Moonflower12]

A friend ( let's call her Pansy) has recently split from her partner of 10+ years. He ( 'John') instigated the split.

She was unaware it was going to happen until he went to a rented flat in another town. This was 10 days ago.

Pansy owns the house outright. No mortgage and only her name on the deeds.

John wants some of his stuff back. Nothing of great value. It's sentimental.

Pansy has given him ( on text) a few convenient dates to come and collect his stuff. He has been busy on theses dates. At a festival tbh.

She has now changed the locks on the house. Is this legal? John is claiming he will bring the police and force an entry? How likely is this?

Having offered numerous dates, is it legal to put his stuff out on the drive so he can collect it at his leisure? Will she be liable in any way for it, if it's stolen or damaged?

Thank you for any help. This is stressing her out.

Read this OP. https://www.cripps.co.uk/thinking/what-happens-if-following-divorce-your-ex-wont-collect-their-things/?pdf=8424#:~:text=An%20involuntary%20bailee%20must%20%E2%80%9Cdo,authority%20to%20receive%20the%20goods.

Let him make a claim, if he wants. From what's been said already on the thread, it sounds like one appointment with a solicitor will cost him more than his lost goods, and he's very unlikely to be able to claim anything from OP because she has made reasonable attempts to give the items back.

Unless she's locked his Porsche or his high spec laptop away from him, she can just work out the value of the goods (sounds like perhaps a fiver) and keep it in an envelope by the door, in case the law comes a-knocking. There's really very little risk in giving him one more chance, making sure she has a record of the contact, and disposing of his stuff after 14 days. Neither the court nor the police would penalise her.

He has voluntarily left the property (this vacating any right he had to stay, though as it is her home and she lives there these were limited anyway). He has a right to get his property back, but at a time convenient to your friend. I suggest your friend talks to the local police and asks if they can attend when he comes to collect his things to ensure there is no breach of the peace.

Ooh that’s fascinating and very helpful - always serve a statutory notice and record it.

I still find crap of my ExH’s in the loft. It’s been over 20 years since he left.

I’d love to serve him a notice to come get his rusty old penknife and ‘special wood’.

Tell him it will be available from the charity shop from xx date if he hasn't collected it. I agree with this idea to sell the ring to fund locksmith.
Also if the complete arse does turn up, have a good friend there to oversee the removal so she's got a witness and doesn't have to see the cf

Thank you everyone. He has said he'll be there on Tuesday at 7pm.
She is going to wait to see him arrive. Film that and his undamaged stuff and then drive off so he can't bang in the door etc.

She's best allowing him to collect his stuff. No need for extra drama.

She has now changed the locks on the house. Is this legal? John is claiming he will bring the police and force an entry? How likely is this

I don't really understand this.

P - John, I really need to you to come and get this stuff. When do you want to come?
J - No, I'm going to call the police and drop by unexpectedly and they'll break your doors down.

How are these conversations going? She's offering him something he wants. How is he making that a police matter?

@Watchkeys

It went like this :

P: I'd like you to come and collect your stuff please. I'm available on x,y, and Z dates at these times...
J:I want to come on Monday at noon.
P: I'm at work then as you know.
J: Well, in that case as you won't agree to my terms, I'll make it a police matter.

As I said, he's an arse sometimes.

Oh right. Well, the police won't come due to the fact that they can't agree on a date and time to collect his stuff. I'd offer a few more available times and actively request that he brings a police officer. And tell him he's welcome to bring a police officer over whenever he wants, at any time of his choosing.

He'll have a lot of trouble obtaining a police officer to do the job (given that there's no job for them to do), but that's not Pansy's problem.

If she is really worried about him coming along with a locksmith or the police, can she stick a note on the door/window saying "FAO JOHN - if you are reading this, please respond to my texts of [insert dates] to arrange collection of your stuff."

Sorry if I've missed it but can someone be there with her when he comes tonight?

He sounds all bluster and someone who'll falter with witnesses to his shit behaviour.

@sodthesodoff
You were right!
He came at 3pm in the end-having agreed this time with Pansy.
She had just put his stuff out on the drive. He drove up. She filmed him arriving and then drove off. He took it all.
He apparently has now paid the electricity bill. And having been to CAB he has discovered he has no claim over the ring so she's keeping it for now and may sell it if she has a rainy day.

Thank you for all your help Vipers. Pansy is very grateful as I forwarded the thread to her.