How to get neighbour to remove stuff

Loretta

It is your land you have just acquired it, you don't want the junk that is on it, get someone to clear it auction it, it is on your land it must be your stuff, who knows? and you don't want it there. This farmer is nothing to do with you so I don't see why he has anything to do with any of this

ceridwen

Another vote for the "Recorded Delivery" letter.

Personally I wouldnt feel the need to pay a solicitor. Its my land - therefore anything on it is my property. I would cover myself by stating words to the effect (phrased suitably) of "I hereby give you notice that the above land is now my property - as it has been left to me by (previous owner). I have decided that I will be using my property myself and accordingly request that you remove your possessions from it by (give a date in 1 months time). Any possessions remaining on my land after that date will be deemed not to belong to you and disposed of accordingly."

I'd word it a bit better than that - but that would be the gist of it.

Hopefully that will be enough to do the trick. If not - then you send him a second letter by Recorded Delivery - stating words to the effect "I enclose copy of my first letter to you - in which I specified that your property was to be removed by x date. I assume that you have now removed everything belonging to yourself from my land and on y date (ie 1 weeks time) I will remove and dispose of all property still remaining on my land."

*************

I think hes trying to psych you out - hoping you're "weak" and will roll over and do what he wants. I very much doubt he'd "go legal" in this case - as you would then so easily be able to produce proof that:
a. the land belongs to you
b. you have asked him in writing to remove the stuff
c. you have given him a final chance in writing to remove the stuff when he didnt meet your deadline.

If it came to Deadline no 2 - then I would indeed remove any stuff still remaining and immediately commence using my land (if, by any chance, you have somewhere hidden you could store any of his stuff if need be - it would be as well to store it there for a while after removing it - just in case its another case of "criminal pleading that THEY are the innocent victim" and you could just say "Here you are officer - its here and I want it out NOW").

Dont let him know that you've stashed it safely somewhere (just in case he tries to pull the victim stunt). If you have nowhere to stash it - then get an auctioneer to take it and cover yourself by sending him (again by Recorded Delivery) the letter from the auctioneer enclosing the cheque from sale of goods - as proof of what you earned from selling this stuff and that you have given him the proceeds. That way he couldnt complain you had stolen HIS money.

FOURCANDLES_2

Hi
I have encountered a similar problem , the farmer is taking the mick, to be honest you can say all you like but he will not shift it as he is not taking you seriously . How i suggest you do it is by being a little more assertive you just need to tell him in writing that you want the property moved by such a date if it is not removed you will arrange for it to be removed and disposed of at his cost and then you need to carry that threat out .He will just take the !!!! but you must call his bluff or he will cost you a fortune in solicitors.

Loretta

FOURCANDLES wrote: »

Hi
I have encountered a similar problem , the farmer is taking the mick, to be honest you can say all you like but he will not shift it as he is not taking you seriously . How i suggest you do it is by being a little more assertive you just need to tell him in writing that you want the property moved by such a date if it is not removed you will arrange for it to be removed and disposed of at his cost and then you need to carry that threat out .He will just take the !!!! but you must call his bluff or he will cost you a fortune in solicitors.

I agree keep it simple, warn him and follow through Personally I wouldn't have bothered to speak to him at all, how do you know it is his stuff? I would have just cleared it

clair222

Thank you all so much for the time you took to reply. I really appreciate it. It was funny but I actually had considered selling the land to travellers if the neighbour's behaviour took a turn for the worse.
I am going for the recorded letter, the hand delivered letter by a third party( witness) and the posting of a couple of notices around the place. I am going to give him 2 months.
I forgot to mention that there might be a possibility of building a house on the land and the reason I am trying to be fair is that there might be objections from him.
Thanks again

omits

You haven't relly explained much about your land and it's relation to his land. Consider also he may get agressive if you "move" his stuff at whatever stage and that he may be trying to claim ownership. When you see him again (best option at this stage I think) have a witness with you who is prepared to testify (if necessary later) to the exchange. Inform him you want it all removed in 2 months and that you will put it in writing. Do you know the circumstances about this before you got the land? Make sure your boundaries are obvious right now as well.

SailorSam

I think if i were to buy a house and the previous owners had left a load of stuff in the back garden i'd just take it to the dump, i wouldn't even start to think maybe it belongs to a neighbour.
It sounds as if your situation isn't a lot different.

googler

clair222 wrote: »

I forgot to mention that there might be a possibility of building a house on the land and the reason I am trying to be fair is that there might be objections from him.

If there's a farm next door, have you investigated what status or 'zoning' your patch of land has?

If it's designated in the council's local plan as farmland, you are VERY unlikely to get planning consent for housing, unless you're building housing that's necessary for the running of the farm.

Again, what's the situation regarding access to your patch in relation to the farm? Was your land originally part of the farm? Are there other neighbours? How big is your patch?

Werdnal

Just out of interest, what "arrangement" if any, did the farmer make with the previous owner of the land? Was it just a casual - yes you can store some stuff there, or was there anything legally binding? Was there ever any rent charged for the use of this space? I am just wondering whether that is what the farmer means by you letter not being "legal". Does he have something in writing to cover his use of the land?

I would also check what exactly he is keeping on the land. Farmers deal with a lot of hazardous chemcials and he could have contaminated the plot. Also things like asbestos from old building roofs needs professional clearance - don't get involved in moving anything yourself unless you are sure what you are dealing with!

paddyrg

If you are offering 2 months to shift it all, maybe add a clause that removal also has to be visibly in progress within a fortnight or the 2 months offer will be void - just to get the ball rolling.