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.

No, she took them down because she does not believe a tenant has any rights in their own home.

I didn't say the landlady was right but there has been advice not to put feeders up between May and October

No, the advise is not to feed peanuts and seeds between May and October.
Suet and mealworm in small amounts is fine.
So feeders can remain up and still be following the advice.
Just as OP said originally.

Advice that the OP is intending to follow and told the landlady she was intending to follow. Are you unable to understand the OP's posts?

Sorry what's your issue? I've posted several times during this thread saying the landlady was wrong. Is that OK with you?

I believe the guidance has been recently updated because the last time I looked on their website a couple of weeks ago it was saying to remove feeders between may and October

My issue?
That you said, 'there has been advice not to put feeders up between May and October' as if this might be news to the thread/the OP, when the OP's first post says, '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'.

I just wondered if you hadn't read that or hadn't understood it or something.

It came across more like "can't you read". Or "are you thick" - which I'm sure was the intention

Anyway no desire to carry on this conversation

This is the current advice, I have just taken this screenshot.

It goes on to say that flat feeders also shouldn't be used. The OP has replied to advice about window feeders stating she doesn't want to get these because they are flat feeders.
She is demonstrating clear understanding of the advice and is clearly a bird/nature lover.

I really don't want to argue about this with two people if that's OK. As I said the guidance was recently updated. There are people in my area who took feeders down (early) due to previous advice. I've not been in supportive of the OP in this. The landlady was wrong in my view

I feed birds myself. I said this on several previous posts

All this hoo ha I totally forgot to take my feeder down.
Doing it now.
I shall get some mealworms, fat or suet. Yum!

Well, I sent the letter on Thursday, ready to arrive with the landlady on Friday 1st.
Tracking service says she has received it.
Haven't heard a thing yet.
She's either ignoring it, or she's taking advice.

Will update!!

Oh, you did the power move of it landing on a bank holiday weekend so she has to stew

Sending you lots of love and support ❤️ 💕

I too escaped domestic abuse and there is so much glorious light at the end of the tunnel ✨️

But people who haven't experienced it underestimate the damage it inflicts. Good on you for taking back control.

It’s no doubt in the bin

I see you're a landlord. You're welcome to put whatever you like in your tenancy agreements, and your tenants may respect your 'rules'. But if they don't, you'll need a judge to enforce any terms such as 'no bird feeders' via a S.8, claiming breach of contract. Have you ever heard the saying about coming to court with clean hands though? Once you start overstepping and removing feeders unlawfully, and ignoring LBA's, you wouldn't be able to evict on those grounds as no judge would side with you.

Brava, OP!

Yes, that's the problem with dodgy landlords - but sending the letter is still a good, proactive step.

THE FEEDERS HAVE BEEN RETURNED!!

I came home from work today and found them in a plastic carrier bag on my doorstep.
I checked doorbell footage again and a man dropped them off shortly before I got home, younger than her, a bit older than me. I'm assuming her son.
I received a text about 10 minutes after I got home and about half an hour after they had been dropped off. I am assuming she waited for him to tell her it had been done. It said:

"After receiving your letter, I have decided to return the birdfeeders. I am assuming you are a bird lover, so I hope you will take notice of the RSPB advice and not hang them in the garden".

I replied:

"Thank you for returning the feeders. I am glad this has been resolved. Please be assured I am choosing to follow the RSPB advice, and will only be feeding mealworms and suet in small amounts between now and October".

She hasn't replied but has seen it.

I am calling this a win!!! 😄

To all the naysayers: I know you were just trying to protect me and I appreciate it. But I was determined to fight this on principal.

To tenants: Don't put up with your landlords crap!! They have no right to treat you like this!!

@goodoldsussexbythesea
Good work! I’m so glad you sent the letter and got a positive outcome. Lesson learnt by your LL who no doubt will think twice before breaking the rules of engagement next time.
Brava!

Well done!!!

So proud of you, OP! Well done for standing your ground xx

Perfect! Lots of baby birds about at the moment, I’ve been digging over a patch and watering it and got a lovely Blackbird collecting worms and bugs. Glad u can feed them inline with the RSPB advice, happy birding xx

I'm glad it's worked out ok for you OP. I was worried for you as your landlord didn't sound the reasonable type.

My garden hedge is currently alive with fledgling starlings. They go nuts for soaked calci worms!

Well done, OP! Some people just try to push it. I'm glad you didn't let her walk over you.