How long is too long? Friends taking advantage?

[bouncebb]

2 years ago some friends of ours were evicted and had to find a new home, they asked if we could store some of their things while they moved as there wasn’t room for it in their new place which was temporary accommodation.
They have since moves a couple of times and have a long term tenancy which as far as I gather from them has no end date at the moment so is their home for the foreseeable.
I say friends lightly because we met them in the school playground as our children were friends and went on a couple of play dates but as the years went by our children have gravitated towards other friends and don’t really play together anymore so we don’t see this couple socially anymore anyway so at most we say Hi and Bye at the school gate.
We have mentioned the stuff we have of theirs every few months and they always say oh yes we forgot about that and promise to arrange to collect it but never do.

We are trying to move house ourselves at the moment so are having people come to view and could do without their belongings cluttering up our bedroom as things like coffee table wouldn’t fit through the loft hatch.

I can’t take them to their house as some items are heavy and wouldn’t fit in my small car.
AIBU to feel they taking advantage of us especially as we are not really in touch anymore or am I just being petty knowing they haven’t really got room for it.
They have no intention of moving any time soon as their tenancy is long term.

Hi
we are moving house so need you to collect your belongings. Please lease can you arrange collection by X date. Thanks.

Similar happened to my friend and she was fed up. She ended up leaving a couple of filled bin bags by their car everytime she saw them! It did the trick.

And she’s storing their items IN HER BEDROOM!!!!!!

Utter madness.

You don’t need the excuse that you’re moving btw - 2 months would be too long - 2 years???! WTAF?

They clearly have no qualms with upsetting or inconveniencing you so why give one shit about them, OP?

This. You're being far too passive. Give them a date, in writing so that there's no ambiguity or come back, and stick to it.

They're massively taking the piss. It would be reasonable to tell them you need it gone ASAP, not do you still need it, they should collect it and take it to the tip themselves if they don't still want it.

You need to give them a deadline to collect. But given you have had it 2 years you do need to give them more than a few days notice. You also can't just bin them as you have put yourself under a responsibility now to look after the goods. You should send them a list of all items you hold, and write to them giving 28 days notice to collect or you will then sell, remove from your property. Take photos. You do then need to make reasonable efforts to sell items and hold the money for them. Unfortunately this is why you should never agree to hold items for someone.

You are making it all too easy for them @bouncebb
Send a text stating you are moving house.

State you will charge them money for the removal of their items to a tip or their address.
Give them 14 days to collect their items.
No 'please' or 'is it ok if...?' You want it gone now.

Don't offer to dispose of it free or make the problem go away.

They obviously don't need the items so have zero interest in doing anything at all.
You are not a storage unit or a dumping ground. Push back hard. You don't have a friendship to break up over this.

Sorry TWO years!! Nah text them and say you have 1 week to get your or it goes on facebook for free and the bin.

Stop being so wet they have used your kindness for weakness.

What everyone’s already said. Grow a spine and tell them to get their crap out of your house by the weekend or it’s going to the tip. Then work out why you’ve let yourself be treated like such a mug.

Oh for goodness sake stop being such a bloody doormat!

Text them, you want it gone by Friday or you'll take it to the tip!

Stop fannying

“Hey friend - do you remember you have belonging at ours? If you want them please collect or we will get them dumped “

or “hey friend do you remember you have belongings at ours? Please take them away. If you don’t want them , I cant dump them on your behalf but you could pay my council to come and collect if that’s easier for you “

Yes, you tell them your house is being sold and you need their stuff out by a certain date. You can't keep it or guarantee its safety beyond that date and see what they say. If they say they can't come and get it, tell them you'll leave it on the curb so they can pick it up when they are available.

Its an almightily cheeky fucker move.

I had the same. I had friends leave their stuff in my tiny cellar for 5 yrs. I told them it needed to go on a certain date and invited them round for breakfast. They turned up and during the breakfast asked if they could leave one or two bigger items. I laughed and said "I'm sorry, no" so they took them.

This… I’d think twice about storing stuff for really good friends, never mind school yard acquaintances - and for 2 years?!

Give them a date to get rid of it’s going to the tip!

Everything above. I'd say get your stuff by xxx day or it's going to charity/tip. Say it'll be on the front.

No need to be concerned about falling out with them as they aren't close anyway.

I know. Mind boggles really. Maybe @bouncebb finds it hard to say no? Lesson learned hopefully?

@bouncebb coming back?