LL came into my garden and removed my bird feeders

[goodoldsussexbythesea]

My landlady lives locally and often drives past my house. Early this morning, I was in my front garden, filling my bird feeders, and she pulled over and said that the advice from the RSPB is not to feed birds from feeders any more.

I told her that actually, the advice is not to feed them seeds and peanuts between May-October this year and I'm planning on following the advice so I was just using up the last of my seed now as it's not May yet.

She got really defensive and said "well, I just think it's important to follow the advice so I'd rather you didn't do it, please take the feeders down!!" which really annoyed me so I said, well it's not May yet so no, and anyway the advice is that you can feed them (small amounts of) mealworm and suet balls after May so I will be doing that, and she didn't say anything else, just drove off.

This really wound me up and I was annoyed for the rest of the day, took the kids out to a farm park and I arrived home an hour ago, and my feeders have gone out of my garden!!!

I checked my ring doorbell and she's bloody come into the garden, armed with a plastic carrier bag, removed my feeders and taken them away!!

I rang her three times back to back and she wouldn't pick up, so I whatsapped her and it immediately went to two blue ticks. I said - "Please return my bird feeders immediately, they are my property and you had no right to take them. I am following the advice but even if I was not, you still have no right to take my things."

After half an hour she replied "I am not currently allowing tenants to use bird feeders at my properties and have asked that they all be removed. I was passing so I removed yours for you, they are in safe keeping and will be returned in October"

My AIBU is not about who was in the right because I bloody well know I am, but whether or not I should call the police. I spoke to my neighbour about it and she said I shouldn't and that I should just replace them and remove the cost from the rent. She says she's obviously nuts and I shouldn't risk falling out with her

YABU - Don't call police, replace and charge her or do something else
YANBU - Call the police, report her for theft, and give them the doorbell footage.

So yet another landlord justifying this CFs behaviour. Your 'contract' doesn't override the law of the land, and this entitled little bully of a woman has zero right to remove the bird feeders and keep them.

I can't believe all the posters like this one who believe it's all right to steal from the OP --- because of RSPB guidance, because she's a renter, because the things the landlady stole might attract rats, because, because the landlady promised she'd bring the OP's possessions back at some point!

Sensible advice.

Dear OP, apart from the difference to your rights that will kick in after May 1st, I think allowing yourself a cooling off period will serve you well. This is highly emotive for you because of your recent history.

If you knee jerk react to her behavior then you ARE allowing yourself to be controlled still. Your fears and anger, based on what a man did to you, will be controlling you.

You have built a beautiful home for yourself and three kids. Are you willing to jeopardise that?

Going by your landlady's extreme reaction I'd be willing to bet she has a similar 'no one can control me' wound as well.

I am astounded at the amount of posters telling the OP to acquiesce to this batshittery?
Her landlord literally let herself into the tenant's home and took her property. It's not even about the bird feeders, she does not have the right to remove any item without permission. She is not the judge jury and executioner just because she is a landlord and owns a house.

I for one am overjoyed that things are becoming harder for these parasites.
OP I don't blame you for fuming, I would be too! Who the fuck does she think he is!

It is theft.
Stop paying rent until she returns your property.

It is theft.
Stop paying rent until she returns your property.

Terrible idea, you can’t withhold rent.

Just to add, I've no opinion on what your course of action should be. Just think that showing down can be helpful sometimes.

Load of nonsense. Firstly it would be extremely expensive to take get someone "done for libel", it goes through the high court and costs around 6 figures. There's only about 200 libel cases a year in the UK, they tend to be via multi millionaires/big newspapers etc. It's absolutely not something you would be able to mount though no win no fee.

Secondly there's a video of her taking the property that isnt hers!!! She is a thief by definition and there's video evidence. The thief saying she'll return it in several months doesn't change matters/she has no legal right to take it/deprive her tennant of it.

Of course you can. Don't pay rent until she returns them.
This will resolve the problem in the fastest manner.

I have said YABU because you shouldn't call the police.

I agree with your LL about the bird feeders, and I would want to ban them altogether. However that doesn't give her the right to enter your property and remove them.

Do not withhold rent as she can then evict you, which may be her plan. Unfortunately there is not a lot you can do in these circumstances.

No fault eviction (section 21) ends on 1st May 2026.
From next week a landlords only option for eviction is a section 8 which costs a fortune and takes a long time due to court backlog.
Don't let her bully you and take your property.
Stop paying rent until she returns your property.

If she's stupid enough to pay 00's down the section 8 route. Then just pay any arrears. And then repeat (stop paying again) so she has to pay and issue another section 8.

She is a bully and a thief. Don't let her bully you xx

I thought the new advice was mainly to move feeders weekly, clean them regularly and change water every day because feeders and baths are spreading diseases. I think she has heard some scaremongering but to take the feeders instead of just giving people the new advice is not on

Our landlord or the maintenance folk sent around, always ask permission & give precise times of entering the property.

Theres a very reliable way to keep rats away from lived in buildings, I’ve had 1 successfully repelling rats & mice for over 20yrs = Electronic electromagnetic rat repeller ….( the ultrasonic versions don’t do the job)
(Yes i do know when the rats are about, the cat tells us & then son shoots them.)

FFS why are people not reading and see that the OP has NO RATS.

OP - i sympathise - I am a landlord and i wouldnt do something like this, and im sorry for what you have gone through. I would refrain from the police - even tho she has actually dine something illegal, i would be nervous about her making your life hell....

Why would anyone need to shoot rats if you have repellents around?

People should not have to think like this. I'm a council tenant and my landlord can't simply walk into my property without giving me notice first unless I repeatedly ignore gas safety appointments or similar. If she's with a landlady who would make her life hell if she complained she's better off out of there

If someone made my life hell as a result of me going to police. I would go back to them. Landlords aren't there to make tenants lives hell as you know - just because someone is in private rented accommodation they shouldn't be sitting worrying what are the repercussions if I do this or say that

My landlord couldn't walk into my garden and remove my property. Why should this woman be allowed to.

Oh don't be ludicrous. OP has explained her financial situation whereby she has a lower level job after fleeing abuse. But she could have diamonds dripping from her ears and it STILL wouldn't be right for her LL to help herself to items from the garden.

She split from an abusive partner. Did you miss that bit?

why did you sign up to mumsnet if you have nothing useful to contribute

I think you need to look at your contract and see if she is obliged to give notice before setting foot on the property. I suspect she is supposed to give at least 24hrs notice. (No way was this an emergency.)

Secondly, you have video of her stealing your bird feeders.

I think you should send an email stating that she has breached your tenancy agreement by coming onto the property without notice and you have video evidence of her stealing your property. You would like this resolved amicably, so if your bird feeders are returned in perfect condition by morning, then you will not report her breach of your tenancy rights to the council or her theft to the police. Of course if your property is damaged, then all cards are off the table.

I’d stop using rent as a weapon altogether because it’s the quickest way to get served notice.

Of course she has no right to come into your garden and take your things but choose your battles wisely. If this turns ugly you stand a very real risk of losing your home. A landlady is not obliged to continue your tenancy and can decide not to renew it. A difficult landlady is the last thing any tenant needs. Getting embroiled in fights with her regardless who was at fault could end very badly. You have children to think about who need a secure roof over their heads who aren’t going to benefit from you getting yourself evicted over some petty dispute with a bonkers landlady who wants to play power games. Nobody disputes she was wrong but with the current housing situation it would incredibly foolish to risk provoking a landlord not to renew your tenancy over a bird feeder. Even reporting her to the council could be enough for her to decide you’re too much trouble to keep on. Think very carefully about where the balance of power lies here. She could quite literally remove the roof from over your head if she wanted to be difficult.

Of course she has no right to come into your garden and take your things but choose your battles wisely. If this turns ugly you stand a very real risk of losing your home. A landlady is not obliged to continue your tenancy and can decide not to renew it. A difficult landlady is the last thing any tenant needs. Getting embroiled in fights with her regardless who was at fault could end very badly. You have children to think about who need a secure roof over their heads who aren’t going to benefit from you getting yourself evicted over some petty dispute with a bonkers landlady who wants to play power games. Nobody disputes she was wrong but with the current housing situation it would incredibly foolish to risk provoking a landlord not to renew your tenancy over a bird feeder. Even reporting her to the council could be enough for her to decide you’re too much trouble to keep on. Think very carefully about where the balance of power lies here. She could quite literally remove the roof from over your head if she wanted to be difficult.