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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:
amimagic · 10/01/2014 20:32

I haven't read the whole thread so not sure if this has already been said, but be very very careful about accepting any money off them in relation to their occupancy as it could risk creating an implied tenancy with security of tenure for the occupants.

Eviction would be a whole different (costly) ballgame then.

halfwildlingwoman · 10/01/2014 20:32

Actually, I'm not sure these people did a 'lovely' thing. Did they help out the rather vulnerable owners of the property or just interfere to sort out the valuable horse in the pretty free pasture? Clearly I'm a cynical old hag, but I think they have taken advantage of a sad situation and you should not feel a moments guilt about giving notice. YANBU

CompletePushover · 10/01/2014 20:32

Meerka, geese are terrifying that's why!

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Canthaveitall · 10/01/2014 20:33

Yanbu and i would have kicked them into touch along time ago. I suggest you also have some rules for making their remaining stay more tolerable. Such as where they can park, days they can use the field and who enters YOUR property. This is important as it sends out the message that you are in charge.

I also wouldn't section anything off as it would appear you are encouraging them and tbh I would tell them to leave in 6 weeks. That's enough time for the worse of winter to be nearly over ( hopefully ) and when you will want to start using your field. Cheeky Feckers.

Manchesterhistorygirl · 10/01/2014 20:34

Normal horsey people?

No such thing!

CompletePushover · 10/01/2014 20:34

Amimagic that's good to know, no money has changed hands.

Halfwildling, the caring was initiated by lovely lady and a few well wishers, the extra horse came later and was one of the well wishers. I really like her too. I'm very disappointed with her reaction today.

But you know what they say, no good deed and all that.

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trixymalixy · 10/01/2014 20:36

YANBU, you shouldn't feel guilty, they've had a good run of it. They must have known it wouldn't last forever.

CompletePushover · 10/01/2014 20:37

Trix, I'm not sure they do know that.

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t3rr3gl35 · 10/01/2014 20:38

For normal horsey people read mad cat ladies. As Manchesterhistorygirl posted - No such thing! Grin

CompletePushover · 10/01/2014 20:44

T3 Grin

I've just spoken to dh, he had been the one to break it to not-happy-person, (I broke it to Understanding-lady) and after she kicked off and left apparently Understsnding-lady told him he was doing the right thing and was being incredibly nice about it. I think she will be busy working as our advocate tonight.

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Meerka · 10/01/2014 20:48

Oh that's good to hear :)

LessMissAbs · 10/01/2014 20:49

I'm pretty sure that you cannot create a secured agricultural tenancy over land which is (a) not in writing and (b) does not permit cultivation of the land but only allows grazing.

Kicking off is not on though. Did one of them go a bit mad at you or your DH then? I'm now really curious as to what part of the world you're in. Is it Scotland?

Honestly, I don't think I could kick a 30 y o horse off my land if I bought a house with land in similar circumstances. I couldn't have it on my conscience. I'd probably just put up with it until it died and use it as a companion to my own horses. But then I'm a horse owner already.

CompletePushover · 10/01/2014 20:49

:) fingers crossed it all works out.

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CompletePushover · 10/01/2014 20:51

Got mad at dh, he said if understanding-lady hadn't stepped in a few times she would have been screaming in his face.

Considering we've been doing them a favour it's horrible.

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CompletePushover · 10/01/2014 20:55

And throw in the fact that they will be parked on my drive every day and wandering around my garden to the shed.

Did I mention that I didn't know she had dogs and only found out she'd been letting them out in my garden and in the field after if walked my carefully-being-kept-away-from-all-dogs unvaccinated puppy had been walked there.

That was the final straw tbh. So far puppy is well and good and I've only found one lot of unpuppy-sized shit in my garden (next to where they park), but if he comes down with anything I will be livid and very :( since I've been so careful.

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NigellasDealer · 10/01/2014 20:57

she sounds like a complete piss-taker tbh CP - kick em out ASAP with no feelings of guilt. (speaking as someone who also keeps a horse)

thelittlemothersucker · 10/01/2014 20:59

I hope the well-wishers don't just walk away from the old stallion and leave it in your field as your responsibility.

LessMissAbs · 10/01/2014 20:59

he said if understanding-lady hadn't stepped in a few times she would have been screaming in his face

Absolutely appalling. I'm guessing you might have been a bit better disposed to them OP if they weren't behaving like this and taking the mickey parking on your drive?

NigellasDealer · 10/01/2014 21:01

that crossed my mind too littlemothersucker, then CP would be responsible for the horse......

CompletePushover · 10/01/2014 21:02

I'm still hoping it's just an initial emotive reaction this evening. I'm trying to make excuses. They didn't know I had a new puppy, but had never asked if their dogs could be over there. They might not have noticed one had shat in my garden. They do move the car when we need to get out (it blocks us in) although have never asked to park there.

It's annoying. I really liked them and thought we might be friends, and now it turns out they've just been taking what they can get from me.

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t3rr3gl35 · 10/01/2014 21:05

Take the moral high ground CompletePushover. You are not the one taking the piss. Not-nice lady is showing her true colours - if she truly, truly cared for the horse she would have no hesitation in securing his future elsewhere - or making the decision to end it for him if necessary, which despite the cuddly brigade's objections is often far kinder than having it moved from unsuitable home to unsuitable home in its twilight years. Stallions of that age that can be safely used as companions are as rare as hens teeth, hence the reason few livery yards would consider housing them.

Let her scream and stand firm with your husband as support. It's your land and your right to enjoy it as you see fit.

CompletePushover · 10/01/2014 21:06

Lessmiss, if they weren't so intrusive it wouldn't be so... Well, intrusive! And I would probably have accepted if they offered to fence off an area for the horses (it's a very large field) for them to stay in until the stallion died. But I'm already dreading the summer since it's becoming clear that this field is viewed as their own private park for them and their friends. Which would make sense if it was formally rented. But it isn't. It's mine

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trixymalixy · 10/01/2014 21:06

They block you in? They're taking the piss. You've been far too nice. It would drive me nuts to have to ask someone to move their car on my own land.

CompletePushover · 10/01/2014 21:07

Trix, yup. Definitely getting that mug tattoo

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LessMissAbs · 10/01/2014 21:08

What happens when you are assertive with them with the parking situation? Is there nowhere else they can park?!