Quite a lot of stuff left behind by previous owners...

**Juice**

...so, we moved into our new house on Friday after a fairly drawn out buying process as the seller didn't do anything when they had agreed to. We arrived at the property at 2pm after our estate agent said that we could pick the keys up from the property.

On arrival it was quickly evident that the previous owner hadn't really made a dent in his packing or removals and hadn't cleared one single room so that we could get our things in. He still had the key at this point despite the sale going through and the property legally being ours. After 6+ hours of him and his family removing stuff they had the property 80% clear, we moved everything else to the garage out of the way.

His family came to collect additional stuff over the weekend...but there's still various bits and pieces left (including a couple of larger items). My husband told both him and his family that he needed to come and collect stuff by the end of this week or we'd be getting rid of it at the weekend and at the moment there's been no follow up from them. For one of the larger items we've given him until January to do something with it and made that clear too.

I haven't checked our contracts yet but I've found quite a lot of conflicting information online about whether you can just throw stuff out or if you have to notify them in writing? I feel like we've been more than reasonable and been clear enough on our position, I just don't really want him rocking up in 6 months time asking for his stuff that we've binned...any thoughts on this?

AndyBSG

When completion happened the property was yours and the previous owner had no right to leave stuff there so you've been VERY accommodating in allowing them to do what you did.

When we sold my nan's house we foolishly forgot to check the loft and left some old junk up there which led to us getting charged for the removal of it. Yes, it was a pain but it was our own fault and I had no complaints.

I suggest contacting your solicitor and seeing what they advise.

In most cases pursuing the previous owner is more aggravation that it is to just dump everything but for me it's the principal of the matter and I would pursue it.

lincroft1710

"given him until January" was not very sensible, 4 weeks from the date of you moving in is more than adequate. You cannot dispose of his items without due notice.

What are these items exactly?

Caroline_a

Ask your solicitor to send a strongly worded letter requesting storage fees!

**Juice**

lincroft1710 wrote: »

"given him until January" was not very sensible, 4 weeks from the date of you moving in is more than adequate. You cannot dispose of his items without due notice.

What are these items exactly?

We've given him 5 1/2 weeks which I don't feel is much different, we'd be unlikely to be doing much binning over Christmas week to be honest.

lincroft1710

4 weeks focuses the mind more than "January", and the date would be Dec 16, a week before Xmas. If he or family comes this weekend, let him/them know politely but firmly the large item must be removed by the agreed date or it will be disposed of and you will pursue him for the cost of its disposal as the law allows.

G_M

Well you could have claimed Completion did not take place as you were not given 'vacant possesion', and he'd have incurred penalties for ailing to Complete. However that is water under the bridge now.

You could immediately transfer all his belongings into storage, inform him by post, and inform him he has tow weks to arrange collection from the storage compay, and cover your costs for the removal and storage, after which you'll sell.

When you sell, you can use the money to pay your costs, but anything above that is his.

Guest101

Torts interference with goods act - for the legal position

Bossworld

Check that they stated on the TA6 and TA10 forms that everything would be removed. If they have, it's surely only your goodwill and conscience that's stopping you getting rid of it and you'd probably win any claim for costs of removing it.

Miss_Samantha

An adequate deadline is 7 days.

Pixie5740

Change the lock.