AIBU to sell my ex husband's tools after four years?

[CatsangDogs]

Hi sorry that I have probably posted in the wrong bit, I was hoping someone might know and save me another trip to a solicitor. My husband left 4 years ago and when he left he didn't clear out the garage with his tools in. My dilema is that I'm quite short of money and I have had someone take a look at some tools and stuff thats in there and I could sell the stuff for about £750. I asked him when he done a bunk years ago to come and get his stuff, I also messaged my MIL to say the same thing when he first left, I gave him 3 or 4 chances to get his stuff but he didn't come. I know that he was constantly looking for tools on marketplace so I'm wondering if he can kick up a fuss if he sees his stuff for sale. I'm not sure what could happen or if the stuff is legally his. Sorry for this rambling post, I hope someone can help.

Well I don't know legal stance but I did same with my ex's stuff in garage. (Well we put it in the skip although it probably wasn't valuable stuff)
Same as you. Said different times about it and it was in there for a few years so gave up in the end

Are you divorced with a financial settlement? If not I wouldn't.

Thanks @purpleme12 yeah I gave him the option and he never came to collect anything.

It doesn’t sound like he has any plans to come back for them or any legitimate expectation that you would keep them. But just to keep life simple sell them somewhere other than FB.

Hi @PicaK We are divorced, but I do feel guilty if I sell his stuff. I'm presuming he doesn't want any of it.

If you dont need the money, a local college may like the donation?

There are laws in the UK about disposing of another’s property.

Contact him in writing, email & post, give him a dead line of say 4 weeks and tell him you will dispose of them if he doesn’t collect.

Tell him you consider them to be abandoned.
KEEP copy of whatever you write to him.
Lay the tools out and take photos so you have proof of what you’re storing.

Don’t say you’ll sell in case he comes looking for ££.

YANBU. £750 for four years secure storage seems fair. You've repeatedly asked for them to be moved, to no avail.

I hope the money helps. 😊

Hi @vincettenoir where else would you sell things? if you don't mind me asking thanks.

Unfortunately I do need the money @wizzywig

I’d send a letter to him postal and email if you have it
cc the mother In law and his solicitor he used and say

dear ex husband
I’m clearing out the garage and note that there are still some of your tools in there. I have made arrangements to have it cleared and so if I don’t hear from you by xxxxx I will assume you do not want any of these items after 4 years has passed.
please acknowledge receipt of my email and confirm whether you want or don’t want the stuff and we can make an arrangement for you to collect.

Hopefully he won’t reply and you can just sell it all but this covers you x

I’ve never sold tools but you get them for sale on eBay and Vinted.

Hi @Meadowfinch yes I did keep it all here incase he came back for it but he never did.

I would sell the stuff and keep the money. If he asks for his share just tell him its gone on storage fees 😁

stick it on gumtree

Thank you @Besidemyselfwithworry He is an arse, he left us for someone else and doesn't give a monkeys about our situation. I feel bad but he has a lot more than us.

Inform him in writing that if he doesn't collect within 28 days, you will be disposing of it.

I think do that but give him just a week to reply about whether he wants them like please confirm within 7 days if you wish to come and collect them otherwise they will be disposed of. If you fail to respond I will assume you don’t want them.

sorry this happened to you there are some horrible people out there.

You don't even need to specifically say tools if you contact him, just that you're clearing the garage and if there's anything of his in there that he'd like to reclaim then deadline is x date or you'll be disposing of as you see fit.

Sell on gumtree once youve contacted him in writing, email, text and given him a deadline

I wouldn’t contact him.
sell it, use money on whatever you like.
if and when he contacts you about it, tell him you gave it to his friend who knocked for it 12 months ago.
What friend?
er.. John.
youre not a storage facility op

I'd happily sell them and if he ever mentions them again say I gave them away after 4 years of storing them. I wouldn't be chasing him for a response about them, he abandoned them for years in your home.

He's lucky you aren't charging him storage!

This is fantastic and absolutely do this. You need the money and he has fucked off so do it and do not think twice op.