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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:
lyrasdaemo · 12/01/2014 19:42

Give your solicitor a kick! Also, who legally owns the horse? Possibly you if it came with the house.

CompletePushover · 12/01/2014 19:52

There's no livestock or tenants in my contract. It's either theirs or legally abandoned (happy to be corrected). Basically what they have sold me is not as in the contract of sale, so any costs to do with it I believe could be claimed from the sellers. I don't want to do this. But will if they turn out to be a lot.

OP posts:
RenterNomad · 12/01/2014 21:04

Totally agree with SpottyDottie: these people have shown what they will do if there's any backing down.

Talk of the Big Society is all very well, but too much "voluntarism" means too much unaccountability (and lest anyone think I'm politically biased, that cuts both ways, with "volunteers" becoming "exposed"/ legally vulnerable because they weren't part of an accountable chain of management). These "volunteers" trampled over the previous owners, with no oversight and little comeback, and now even the "nice" one is on the wrong side of the law and it could be very unpleasant for them if you were pissed off enough to go in heavy, legally.

Have you seen a solicitor yet?

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 12/01/2014 21:21

Ok, this thread is getting too frustrating! You bought the house and land, there's nothing in the contract of sale re horses or any other Godforsaken creatures coming with the land so they shouldn't be there, end of. Neither should you have to put up with local do-gooders coming along and abusing your property by feeding and tending to said horses. They have no right to enter your land/property. You don't even know if they actually had an agreement with the previous owner!

If I were you, I'd be going back to the solicitor I'd used to complete the sale and asking why the previous owners had not removed their livestock. Your solicitor can go back to their solicitor and pose the same question. The only problem I foresee with this is that lots of time has elapsed. Didn't you think the day you moved in that the horses shouldn't be there?! Just as if you move into a house and the previous owner has left/removed items in the contract of sale, you should be entitled to financial recompense. Can you sue the previous owner for the cost of the use of the land, water bills, removal of the horse(s)?

IceBeing · 12/01/2014 21:29

sorry nothing useful to say but interested in how things turn out....I can supply some virtual backbone and hugs if it comes to that though.

CompletePushover · 12/01/2014 21:49

Renter :) it's Sunday! Sundays are for lounging and not solicitors. I think it's a law, but I can't double check that, due to no solicitors being available (because of the law about solicitors not working on Sundays). Grin

Icebeing, I'm strapping on my virtual backbone right now. I can feel my resolve strengthening.

Wibbly, I know it's frustrating. We knew this place would never be as straightforward as it should be. In my defence we were originally told the horses would be gone. Two weeks before completion (5 months of very slow conveyancing) we came by to measure up, and the owner (with SN) told us the horses would be staying and with desperation on his face added "and that's ok, isn't it?", we said it wasn't ok, but realised at that point it was likely that the horses would still be there when we arrived.

To throw in a bit more info, we had already handed in notice for our rented place, we'd been delayed over and again by stupid things already, our youngest dd was 4 weeks old and we were desperate to get into the place and start all the hundreds of things that needed doing to the house to make it liveable (it was a wreck). So when we got here we were working 16 hour days on the house. When horse person turned up at the door they seemed very nice, told us the tale and we wanted to be nice so said they could keep the horses there over the winter. We were so busy with the house and a new baby that sorting out an eviction etc would have been too much and we also felt they'd done a good deed so it would be nice of us to let them stay a bit longer. The impression we got was that as soon as we said "go" they would happily leave. But that's not how it's turning out.

OP posts:
thenightsky · 12/01/2014 22:15

Tell them you will be ploughing up the land on such and such a date.

mousmous · 12/01/2014 22:25

the ploughing might be very effective.
farmers might be able to do it quickly and cheaply for you if you ask. then sow a lovely grass and meadow mix or you to enjoy.

Pixel · 12/01/2014 22:26

so any costs to do with it I believe could be claimed from the sellers

I hate to say it but even if you ended up having the horse PTS it would cost you quite a lot for the actual deed and for removal of the body. It's some years since I had to do it but even then it came to several hundred pounds, so whatever happens you are going to be out of pocket I'm afraid.

RenterNomad · 12/01/2014 22:34

Sorry to nag. I had forgotten it was the weekend, and that you only posted on Friday! Such a lot seems to have happened already, with the stupid person screaming at your DH, and your being organised enough to check your contract, etc...

BerylStreep · 12/01/2014 22:41

Sorry to nag

Pun intended?

RenterNomad · 12/01/2014 22:45

It's your pun, Beryl; run with it!

steppemum · 12/01/2014 23:06

OP
In my experience renting to people you know can go wrong, as what you see as being nice/doing a favour, they see as entitlement.

Their reaction is really their problem. The previous owners sold the field, they have no contract with them or with you and they want to stay on rent free.
They are really taking the mick. They can't see it because they can only see that they rescued the horse. But it isn't your horse!

Write them a solicitors letter:

We are owners of the land where your horses are living.
There is/was no agreement with you over this use of our land. House and land were sold as empty.
We have very generously informally allowed you to use our field rent free over the winter to allow you time to make other arrangements.
We hereby give you notice to vacate our land by xx date.
Any animals in residence after that will be charged at xx amount per week rent, and the RSPCA will be called in to dispose of animal.

LessMissAbs · 12/01/2014 23:54

You normally have a set period in your purchase contract to check that everything is as it should be (e.g. the central heating works) and claim for any deficiencies. Its usually the first 7 or 10 days from hand over of the keys.

Balaboosta · 13/01/2014 07:21

Why are you giving so much notice? Give them to the end of the month. Their horses are not your problem! YABU only for putting up with this!

CompletePushover · 13/01/2014 08:51

Pixel, :( we'll cross that bridge if when we come to it.

Bala, because way back when we said they could keep them there over the winter because we probably wouldn't do much with it until Easter. So gave an arbitrary, you can use it until the end of march and then we'll see. What we hadn't envisaged is how little we would be able to use it (even for a simple wander) with them there, and that they would be so imposing. When understanding lady came to the door I was on my own with the baby and had just woken up from trying to catch up on sleep (terrible night the night before). So it wasn't a planned conversation. I just thought that since we'd said the end of march in the first place we would just end it there and then there would be no surprises all round.

This was when I didn't think they would be anything but grateful for the favour done for them and understanding of our needs.

Steppe that looks perfect to me, I love the phrasing of what we have permitted not being in any way a rental.

Renter, I wouldn't say organised Grin we needed another paper from the bundle and dh had a quick scan of the contract whilst he had it out. We were both very relieved there wasn't anything scary in it.

Oddly enough the solicitor I usually use was their conveyancer. I'm hoping if I talk to her about the ongoing problem it won't be a conflict of interests and she fully understands why it would have ended up like this with people taking advantage of the previous owners (and now muggins)

Oh Blush did I really spell ploughing like that?!

Lessmiss, that's good to know too.

I think we're definitely going to go with ploughing in April. I love the idea of a proper meadow :) but I'd have to wear a cotton dress and skip through it on a warm summer's day, and that wouldn't be a pretty sight!

OP posts:
GlaikitFizzog · 13/01/2014 09:27

must be a gingham dress!!

CompletePushover · 13/01/2014 09:47

Glaik, you're quite right, and I must have plaits too Grin

OP posts:
RenterNomad · 13/01/2014 10:11

Or sow with poppies and play "A Room with a View"!

RenterNomad · 13/01/2014 10:11

Or sow with poppies and play "A Room with a View"!

CompletePushover · 13/01/2014 10:17

I think I should plant different areas in different styles and wander through each one (in appropriate attire) depending on mood. It's the only sensible option really. Do you think I could install a field wardrobe, or would I need planning?

OP posts:
mistlethrush · 13/01/2014 10:19

If its a temporary structure that can be moved I think you'd be able to get away without planning permission Wink

Hope the notice serving and chat to lawyers goes well.

CompletePushover · 13/01/2014 10:35

Thanks mistle :) I'll put it on a wheel barrow Grin

OP posts:
mistlethrush · 13/01/2014 10:42

It could be like one of those seats you get in posh country houses that can be wheeled around... That would go with the whole theme I think.

CompletePushover · 13/01/2014 11:06

I think it would be perfect. Indeed I can feel myself becoming more and more lady of the 12 acres manor.

OP posts: