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To kick these people out?

999 replies

CompletePushover · 10/01/2014 18:24

7 yrs and this is my first AIBU, and I'm so cowardly I've name changed Grin

So... After years of renting crappy places dh, the 4dcs and I have finally bought a lovely house.

It's great. Needs loads of work doing on it. Lots of potential, completely neglected and now ours. The people who had it before us had some problems and had criminally neglected their animals. The house comes with a field.

Now begins the lovely story. A few years ago Some people passing by saw how neglected the horse in the field was and took it upon themselves to look after it. They did amazing things, built him a shelter, bought him food, trimmed his hooves, all of it.

The horse is a stallion and unbroken but of nice temperament. But it means he can be flighty.

Move on a year and one of the group has taken on most of the care and bought their own horse who now lives rent free in the field.

Two weeks before completion the owner tells us we will be inheriting a cat and that the horses are staying (he's gifted the stallion to the other horse owner)

So... We panicked until lovely horse person came to our door and seemed very nice, and we said they could stay until Easter and then we'd see (rent free).

This all seemed ok, but there have been annoyances: There's no where else to park but in our drive, when we want to wander around the field with the dcs we have to struggle through two horses and it's a nightmare, and now finally we have bought out longed for dog and I can't walk him on my field without someone with me because I can't carry a baby and a puppy and fend off the horses on my own, in December we were told they use one of our sheds for feed, And there are other people who are part of the group who have not introduced themselves to me, but who go on to my field regularly.

So this evening we've let the horse owner know that beyond the end of march we want our field back. At the moment I've used it twice since we moved in and I want to use it daily.

They're not happy. I tell a lie, one is not happy, the other is completely understanding.

I know they did a good thing, I know they put work into the field (shelter and fencing) but I also know they've had free pasture for 18 months in return, and I think it's become a picnic spot for them all.

AIBU? And should I be growing a backbone, because I'm already trying to think of a way to section off some of it, which I know would only end up delaying the inevitable? I'm also worried because I'm in no way insured to have this all going on on my property.

I want nice things for the people who have done good, but at the same time I want to enjoy my home. I also have PND and desperately want to be outside but can't cope with being around people. Just to throw that in there.

OP posts:
CompletePushover · 11/01/2014 12:06

Although I would be happy with the single steel one, I'm not so fancy as to demand a double steel Wink Grin

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comingintomyown · 11/01/2014 12:07

YANBU

I too suspect this will not be straightforward and annoying as it may be to incur further costs I would see a solicitor so you know exactly what's what as you deal with them over the coming weeks. Anyone who buys a horse to put on land they know is being sold sounds quite tricksy to me.

I would also ask them to park elsewhere and to not let their dog run free on your land.

I wouldn't feel so much as a shard of guilt about any of this as you have zero responsibility towards them or their animals

CompletePushover · 11/01/2014 12:08

Coming, I'm a soft touch aren't i? Could I please have an mn army to picket the field? Just a small army, I'm not greedy.

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comingintomyown · 11/01/2014 12:10

Joking apart though you have a family and MH stuff going on you simply can't afford to feel guilty or let that influence your decision

Merguez · 11/01/2014 12:14

Coming is right. You cannot afford to waste time or mess around with these people.

CompletePushover · 11/01/2014 12:16

Coming, if I didn't laugh I would cry (sadly not flippant), no I don't need the guilt. The PND is both making the guilt worse, my isolation worse, and my ability to do something about it worse.

I wonder if they'd be sympathetic or take further advantage if they knew the hurt it was causing me.

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CompletePushover · 11/01/2014 12:18

Right now the sun is shining. I would really like to take a pushchair, a book, a puppy and a chair and go and sit in the middle of the field and enjoy it. But I can't.

The house doesn't really have a garden, the land is my outdoor space.

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comingintomyown · 11/01/2014 12:21

The latter would be my guess

I would also get a letter sent from the solicitor once you have established what's what and under the circumstances maybe hand over over dealings to them if there is even a whiff of non compliance form them

On this long thread in AIBU only one poster thinks you are and she thinks it's ok to have a mobile phone out at the cinema so doesn't count !! Seriously try and be rational you are sooooo NBU

SaveMeTheLastGreenTriangle · 11/01/2014 12:22

I could lend you some bikers, they're very fond of camping on fields. Ideally once the horse has gone, though!

CompletePushover · 11/01/2014 12:23

Coming :) it's been really reassuring. Both dh and I are overwhelmed by how helpful and supportive you've all been (even the dissenter! :) ). It's made me consider other potential costs such as vet bills etc that I hadn't even thought of.

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CompletePushover · 11/01/2014 12:25

SaveMe, they'll have to be brave and face down the horses :) sounds perfect. Bikers are more than welcome, I'll even offer them free water!

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QueenArseClangers · 11/01/2014 12:25

For the time being can you park right at the bottom of your drive so they can't pull their vehicle in off the road? That way you won't be hovering waiting for the buggers to block you in?
You could get a horn from Victoria to blast through the window when you see them too Smile

CompletePushover · 11/01/2014 12:27

Queen, that horn could be the solution to all my problems, I'll just honk it every time something happens that I don't like. I hadn't thought about parking across the drive. It would be very annoying for anyone wanting to visit me, but would mean they would have no choice.

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greenfolder · 11/01/2014 12:30

yanbu- the notice you have given is entirely reasonable. if they havent sorted at the end of it, get rspca or horse rescue in to remove the animals.

RenterNomad · 11/01/2014 12:30

Bollocks, that horn! Blush

It was a random text message I copied and pasted by accident, all right? Blush Blush Blush

CompletePushover · 11/01/2014 12:35

Grin come clean, you have a horn fetish, don't you?!

Thanks green, I do want to line up an emergency option.

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yetanotherstatistic · 11/01/2014 12:40

Yes park across the drive. A pain but should pay dividends while you are waiting for the gate and car horn Grin.

There's not anyway of hosting a community event on your field is there? You could offer to host say a fundraising car boot in May because the weather will be better and the people who have had your land rent free (because of your community spirit) will have gone by then. If the event is widely known (advertising sign going up in field perhaps) then the trespassers will have another push to get them moving and less grounds for bitching about you to the locals.

RenterNomad · 11/01/2014 12:42

I feel a namechange coming on, now that MN knows I've got both the horn and a friend called Victoria....

CompletePushover · 11/01/2014 12:44

Yetanother, I like that idea! We could have a big BBQ for all the neighbours as a get to meet us thing! I would actually love to do that anyway.

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RenterNomad · 11/01/2014 12:44

yetanother, that's an excellent idea: legal, fair, community-minded, and assertive.

CompletePushover · 11/01/2014 12:44

Renter, it does make you extremely recognisable Grin

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RenterNomad · 11/01/2014 12:46

No-one can see my horns. I'm a closet goat.

CompletePushover · 11/01/2014 12:48

Renter

Oh my god is this you?!

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RenterNomad · 11/01/2014 12:52

Shit. Look, it was an off day, and the Slitheen suit wasn't working, okay?

CompletePushover · 11/01/2014 12:55

It's a good look, it works, it's very... Rural

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