STBXH possessions - what can I do with them?

[Leavestumble]

Hello, currently going through a long-winded divorce process. STBXH left the property following an occupation order. He has refused to pick anything up as he "doesn't have space". It has now been 3 months. Does anyone know if I'm required to store his possessions, and if so, for how long/at which point in the divorce? The children are finding it hard when they see all his clothes in the wardrobe still. Many thanks!

Regardless of how long you can certainly box them up and put them somewhere out of sight.

Can’t you box them up and stick them in the attic?

Drop them off at his dm's house.

I sent mine a date and time to collect his belongings I advised him that they were all boxed/in bin bags on the drive. ( I also advised him that the boxes were alongside the bins and the binmen were due on that date, at 13.00 as usual ).

He collected!

Yes, the clothes are boxed up or in suitcases and piled in the wardrobe. Other items also wrapped, packed and boxed and stored under beds/ in cupboards. However it is still all here, in sight, and the children ask about them too. No attic, I haven't put in the garage as worried about the damp/being in trouble for damaging them.

Put them in the garage. If they are in bin bags the damp won't get to them Tough luck if he doesn't like it.

Why can't he hire a storage unit. If he is difficult maybe cheap large plastic garden storage boxes in the garage, argos and wowcher do them,

What does your solicitor advise, have you got a paper trail asking him to collect his stuff.

As I understand it you are within your rights to give him a date they have to be away by, and for eg put them in the garage.
like a pp, it’s amazing how they sort it out when given the deadline.

Get some cheap vacuum clothes bags and fill them with clothes. Even if they aren't brilliant, they'll be pretty waterproof and so the contents won't be likely to get mouldy. And if they are decently vacuum, they won't take so much space up! Put the not-clothes in the suitcases in bin liners.

Iirc from watching Judge Rinder type programmes, you are allowed to give him a reasonable deadline before getting rid.

Ha, I just belatedly spotted that MN is promoting vac bags for people running out of storage!! They helpfully have links...

Vacuum bags are a great idea. Will take up less space too. Thanks

Thanks, yes I do have a solicitor and a paper trail. Every email is £££. I have found asking something very specific saves lots of expense therefore am researching carefully at each stage. However, with this question I was less sure as it is still our joint house and I forced occupancy.

I’d take your question onto legal. Where I’m pretty sure the actual lawyers will say not to bag stuff up to dump or to threaten to do it.

The question you need to have answered is whether he has the right to store possessions in the family home pending a decision on your financial settlement. At the moment you have an occupation order and you should explain that along with the ownership of the house.

Deal with it as part of you divorce settlement.

My solicitor wrote to my STBXH and gave him a date to have the stuff out of the house and outbuildings. Date passed she wrote and told him I was going to throw it all away at half his cost. Still not replied. But it is all skipped. Cost me a bit to get rid of it. But it's gone.