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.

Oh yes, I meant to add in that I have video footage and her admission on whatsapp, I will edit

Horrible, self-righteous cow. I'd be fuming. However, unless I was happy to be looking for a new place, I'd bite my tongue.

Get one of the window sucker bird feeders OP and stick it on your upstairs window where she can't snatch it 😅 i got one off amazon for about £10, the birds here love it!

They knocked and I ignored it so they texted while at the front door! I ignored that too. I texted about an hour later and made an excuse about not hearing the door etc.

I suspected they had been coming into the house previously knowing we were out at work, so we had only just made a big point of letting them know we had changed the code to the burglar alarm, and kept ‘forgetting’ to give them the new one so think this was their new way of visits without notice. They were absolute horrors.

It isn't done with a "trust me" honestly system. If she wants it back for those reasons, she has to provide the proof at court where anything said not true or given fakde is a serious criminal offence. And then the property is can't be rented out to anyone for 12 months, and doing so is a criminal offence.

In the laughably unlikely event she does all that, the OP was always in danger from someone far more disturbed/unhinged than even the bird feeder incident suggests, and should happily take the 4 months notice required for these reasons to look for a new place.

The rest of your post is nonsense landlord propoganda coming from the parasites having a tantrum.

Hmmm not sure, OP. I'm crap at this sort of thing, but as a first contact it looks to me a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut. If I were in your shoes, I'd try a softer approach for starters - something like:

Dear Controlling Cow,

Re: Bird feeders at (address)

Following our recent conversation, I was shocked to see the CCTV film of you taking my bird feeders from the garden.

Bird feeding has provided me with much-needed joy and comfort in difficult circumstances. It is not just a hobby, but an important aspect of my quiet enjoyment of the property. I am always careful to follow RSPB guidelines, and the bird feeders represented a significant investment of my limited spare funds.

As a landlady, you must be aware that entering the garden without my permission and removing my belongings could have damaging and potentially costly legal consequences for you. I therefore hope this matter can be resolved promptly and amicably.

Rather than find myself forced to take further action, I'd be grateful if you would arrange for the bird feeders to be returned to me no later than (deadline).

Many thanks, etc...

(Edited to add: consequences for you 😁)

Yeah much better.

I didn't know about those! <<off to Amazon>>

I suggested this ages ago. My mum has a couple on her bedroom window as she's basically bedbound. She gets a variety of birds using it, including a couple of magpies!

I have jays in my garden. wonder if they'd deign to use a window feeder...

If you're a single mum of 3 on a low wage I would say it would be very very unwise to start a war with your landlord based on something annoying but small in the scheme of things (like homelessness)

@goodoldsussexbythesea can you afford a significant increase in your rent as soon as the landlord can legally do so?
She is wrong and you are fully entitled to ask for your property back. But if you go this far there is a very high risk it will backfire on you.
Depends how much your principles are worth to you in hard cash I guess?

I love it. It took them about a week to notice it, but now I get lots of different birds all through the day 🙂 Doesn't seem to create much mess on the floor either so that's a bonus!

Yes because we should all suck it up and be treated like crap by landlords

Thanks for posting the link. It's a difficult one this as I'm in a local bird group and they are saying not to stop feeding as birds rely on the food to feed their young. Caterpillar numbers are very low due to use of pesticides and climate change. Many chicks die of starvation before fledgling. Numbers of small birds are plummeting. The trick is to carry out regular thorough cleaning of feeders and to feed the correct foods.

@SpryTaupeTurtlepick your battles in life.

I disagree with the view that the OP should put up and shut up. I wouldn't suggest going nuclear, but in my experience making it clear to a landlord that you know your rights and you'll enforce them can stop them taking the piss. You can do so while being polite and sticking to the law.

If after May 1st the LL wants to evict, it's a four month minimum notice followed by a wait for court if the tenant says they're not leaving, eg due to not finding anywhere to go to. That can easily take another 6-12 months due to the backlog and the LL will know they risk not being paid rent in that time (because tenant has nothing to lose) They are also only able to put the rent up once a year, and if they put it beyond a typical market rent as a tactic to force the tenant out, the tenant can go to a tribunal to challenge it. A LL with more money than sense might go that route, but the new bill puts a stop to quick revenge evictions, which used to be depressingly common when for example tenants complained about repairs not being done.

These aren't my battles. Ok?

This is absolutely true. On the recent David Attenborough documentary "secret gardens" (if anyone reading this hasn't seen it btw, go give it a watch on BBC iplayer, it's amazing) a nest of babies die of starvation and they say it's because of a lack of caterpillars.
Personally I will be doing what the OP is doing. I don't use flat feeders, and I'm using up the last of my seed now and then feeding suet and mealworms until October. This follow RSPB advice and makes sure they have something to eat

I do get your frustration and anger OP, but if your landlord is vindictive (and she doesn't exactly sound a reasonable sort) and declares she's selling up what would be your longer term plan? Are other rentals easily available in your area?

Sorry OP I am afraid I agree with the post above.

It is just NOT worth it.

And I've helped with a friend with small claims.. it takes up a lot of time, energy and head space.. they won and the other side applied for the judgement to be overturned. Its still going on!!

you will be letting this annoying woman live rent free in your head whilst you go through the process for the sake of what.. less than £100? - at the same time, as an LL she could find all sorts of other things to complain about, true or not - and she will if you take her to small claims court.

Enjoy your lovely garden, your kind and friendly neighbour and the new home that you are happy in and forget about the silly old LL. One of the best revenges is to pity idiots like this.

As another pps suggested, get one of these for an upstairs window instead, hopefully she won't even see it and won't be able to get it. https://amzn.eu/d/04uoWO33

You landlord is wrong, but in your situation, I think you would be mad to take this further unless you want to have to move house. She sounds a bit mad so as pp have said, she might say she’s selling or whatever other reason is legal now to get you out. I wouldn’t put my kids home at risk over a few bird feeders. That seems irresponsible.

eta, I would keep my eyes open for another house though as I wouldn’t want her as my LL, but that’s in your own time, not be be kicked out by her.

I appreciate your concern and advice. Genuinely. But no. I'm not letting it lie. I'm taking this further.

I told myself I'll never let anyone control and bully me again. I told my children I'll never let anyone control and bully them ever again and that they should always stick up for themselves and each other. They're already asking where the feeders have gone and what the baby birds are going to eat now. What example am I setting them by showing them I am just going to put up with someone coming into our garden and taking our things? How can I claim to be a mum who keeps her promises when I am letting some lady walk all over us?

It's about so much more than the £30 or so I spent on bird feeding stuff. Attitudes like "They are only bird feeders" and "this is petty" and "don't antagonise her, she can make you homeless" is EXACTLY why LLs get away with this sort of bullshit and worse, every day. Just look at some of the stories on this thread, worse than that is happening all the time.

These people need to understand we as renters and customers deserve and are entitled to respect. These are our family homes, and we are people, not just cash cows.

I'm sending a message and teaching a lesson because it's bullshit and why the fuck should she get away with it?

I was speaking to my mum again today and she made the very good point that if I do let her get away with it, then it sets a precedent. What will she do next? come in my house? Remove something from my living room she disapproves of? Happens every damn day. There's a million stories of LLs pulling this shit. We need to be setting firm boundaries.

So yeah, letter going out Thursday and if she doesn't return my stuff, I'm taking it to court. Even if I lose, it still sends a message.

Oh and thank you for the amazon link but that's a flat feeder and they're not recommended for birds as they spread disease

Good for you OP, I admire your bravery 💪

I think this might come back to bite you op. She might back down temporarily but I don’t think you will win this longer term.