CF or 'helpful' landlord???

[Inbetweenie993]

Context is .. single (bereaved) & moved in here about 9 years ago. Landlord & landlady have been great, but he's now overstepping IMHO.

For ages sometimes 'popping up' in back garden, with NO Notice but really helpful, mowing the lawn & taking away rubbish etc. Have occasionally found this intrusive, (catching me in my pj's etc) but put up due to helpful element.

I put some stuff in my garden in a pile, as I planned to sort it & hose down what I wanted to keep. Woke up one morning to find the lot had disappeared!! Nothing valuable as such but may be useful.

I am furious but don't know how to approach him. Don't want to spoil things - I love living here. Any advice?

AIBU?

YABU - put up and shut up for quiet life.
YANBU - say something, boundaries have been overstepped. (Not talking garden gate boundary !!)

I think this is a good balance between letting him know and not souring relations.

After reading your last update, OP I would say send a message along the lines of - thanks for the thought however, I hadn’t finished sorting the garden things. In future please let me know when you’re coming over.

All those comments will make you look like a dick and create an an air of awkwardness Why not ask him to help you on a few jobs. Get to know him. He sounds like a lovely soul.

I'd tell them that someone has come into your garden uninvited and that you're putting a lock on the gate for your security.

If he owns up say you are not at all comfortable with anyone being able to come in without your permission and presence.

The landlord should give you a minimum of 24 hours notice before entering the property and then only with your permission, this includes the garden.

He is therefore overstepping legal boundaries here.

It does however sound as if he is trying to be helpful even if a bit misguided about how that should look.

A gentle conversation to explain that you really appreciate his help but it would be nice if he could send you a text the day before he arrives to warn you he's coming to avoid any embarrassment for either party if you're not up and dressed or having a bad day health wise. You could also ask about the items and mention they were there to be cleaned and sorted and does he know where they've gone before you report the theft to the police. Obviously not suggesting you do that but it might bring it home to him that he made an error of judgement in removing them.

If you'd really rather he didn't come in any more I'd just sent a polite message saying you'd rather he didn't enter the garden without giving appropriate notice in future and leave it at that. The law is on your side if you really don't want him there.

I bc wouldn't say anything but would leave another pile outside with a note saying please leave and with all subsequent piles. You can't do anything about what's happened without bad feeling but you can start to condition future behaviour
..

How does he even know what your back garden looks like unless he's coming in?

Can you put a padlock on the gate?