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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:
ThePearShapedToad · 12/01/2014 09:57

Awwww op

Stuff them. If they don't want your tea and company there will loads more that do

Brew

Sharing a virtual biscuit with you right now

CompletePushover · 12/01/2014 10:00

Toad :) Brew

Sorry for the whinge

OP posts:
ThePearShapedToad · 12/01/2014 10:03

Hey, we all need a bit of self pitying every now and then. It's why McVities hobnobs / custard creams / jammy dodgers (delete as appropriate) were invented

Wink
CompletePushover · 12/01/2014 10:06

Don't forget bourbons Grin

OP posts:
aderynlas · 12/01/2014 10:12

Honestly op you have been lovely about this and deserve your tea and sunday morning whinge. Hope you get this sorted soon xxx

ThePearShapedToad · 12/01/2014 10:14

Nom nom nom

Now go eat a few stuff yourself silly and say "f*ck it, it's a new day, a new year, it's my land and I'm going to have a good time on it"

CompletePushover · 12/01/2014 10:17

Aderyn you are very lovely

Toad, I shall gorge myself immediately.

I'm going to do more on my own tiny garden today so at least I'll be outside and active. It helps a lot.

OP posts:
helenthemadex · 12/01/2014 10:18

I hope it gets sorted quickly, with minimum fuss and bad feeling, you have been more than generous. Unfortunately there are always people who will take the piss

CompletePushover · 12/01/2014 10:20

Helen, the one thing I can guarantee is I won't learn my lesson Grin the support here has been overwhelming.

OP posts:
DENMAN03 · 12/01/2014 10:26

OP, just to say that the field shelter doesn't need planning as they are not permanent structures.. So that's one less thing for you to worry about.

CompletePushover · 12/01/2014 10:38

Thanks den, I hope that's the case. It's a substantial structure, not just a lean-to and one of the neighbours mentioned she'd looked into getting one but needed planning.

Either way I guess the worst planning can do is make me take it down :)

OP posts:
t3rr3gl35 · 12/01/2014 11:26

You seem lovely CP, and you are very entitled to have a whinge. I really hope that you get this sorted quickly and as amicably as possible, and fwiw, I'm very like you but I'd far rather be me and feel taken advantage of occasionally than be a bastard who takes advantage of others. Grin

RenterNomad · 12/01/2014 11:37

Have you given notice yet, though?

Have a lovely Sunday (the sun is shining where we are Smile and rest up for the week ahead!

CompletePushover · 12/01/2014 12:17

T3, this is my view. I'd rather be nice and taken advantage of, than be a git and not like myself.

Renter, verbal notice given. Written will be handed over on Monday. I'll see if I can get to see a solicitor for free and if they think my letter needs tweaking I shall get them to send another :)

I was most worried about not having a contract with them, but actually it seems that might be my saving grace.

OP posts:
PinkandGreenStripes · 12/01/2014 14:19

OP, you don't have a contract or any obligation to them. You could demand that they leave this afternoon. You are being too nice! Good luck.

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 12/01/2014 14:45

Agree with Pink - if they'd played fair, fine, let them stay until March. But they've been rude and have taken the piss on a monumental scale. I'd also be tempted to tell them to get lost, they're trespassing. End of. Not your problem.

Pixel · 12/01/2014 15:48

Actually I think the shelter probably did need permission. We have shelters for our horses but it took the field owner years to get permission. Maybe not all councils are the same (and I think there was one neighbour here who objected) but you still need to check. The ones on skids that you can tow about with a vehicle are supposed to be ok.

Peekingduck · 12/01/2014 16:33

I agree with Pixel, it's likely that the shelter needed planning permission. In some areas you even need that for portable field shelters. But if you're not bothered about it I'd just do nothing and deal with it if ordered to take it down.

CompletePushover · 12/01/2014 18:22

It's certainly not on skids, it's a huge solid structure and I think they've hammered posts into the ground. Which to my mind makes it a permanent structure. It cannot be moved without being dismantled.

Here's an update for you! We have checked our deeds and contract of sale. We bought the land with a big fat "vacant possession", where the previous owners needed to declare existing tenants there is a big fat "no existing tenants or anyone with any claim to the land".

The more I've been considering this the more concerned I'm becoming about the intentions. When I discussed this with understanding-lady the other day she mentioned that the owners had been hostile to their caring for the horse and told them to leave initially. It really wasn't clear if they ever changed their stance. They also said that the previous owners were never aware of the organised nature of the volunteers. This doesn't sit well with me.

Horse person came and fed the horses earlier, we were busy with visitors and I didn't realise they'd been until later. So much for hoping for an apology from them.

OP posts:
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 12/01/2014 18:46

So they were using the land without the blessing of the previous owners either?

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 12/01/2014 18:46

So they were using the land without the blessing of the previous owners either?

CompletePushover · 12/01/2014 18:59

Initially that was certainly the case, it's complicated and i don't want to go into too many details, but the primary owner wasn't happy with them there but was very unwell and couldn't care for the animal, this person then died. The two others left behind had SN and were not able to care for the horse either. It was 6 months after their bereavement that horse number 2 turned up. I think from this point they said yes to anything.

It's a sad tale. Yes the horse needed care. But that doesn't mean that the owners' wishes should have been ignored. Particularly when in ill health.

OP posts:
SpottyDottie · 12/01/2014 19:13

I think you should now take the stance that you've tried being reasonable but have since learnt the liberties they have been taking not only with the land, but your garden and driveway. No more being nice, especially as she almost shouted in your DH s face! They need to leave, no ifs or buts.

SpottyDottie · 12/01/2014 19:13

And if you back down, you will NEVER get rid of them! You can't let this drag on.

Pixel · 12/01/2014 19:19

I've never been involved in buying a house but I was under the impression that paperwork etc was done by solicitors. Surely the vendor's solicitor (or whoever arranged sale) would/should have known that the horses were on the property and therefore downright lied?

You must have some comeback on this if things turn ugly.