Someone using our garage

[Deleted User]

I’m not sure if this is the right forum for this so apologies but would be interested in what you would do in this situation.

There is a block of garages down our road which belong to the various residents. We own one of the garages which came with our property, although we have barely used it since we bought it 3 years ago.

Yesterday my neighbour mentioned to me that he thinks someone has been using our garage to store things. We went down to have a look and our garage was unlocked and the door tied closed with a piece of string. Inside was a few bits, mostly junk although there was a kids bike which looked like someone would want back.

We padlocked the garage (with the things still inside) and left a note on the door in the hope that somebody contacts us.

What should we do if nobody comes forward say in a few weeks times? We now have somebody else’s property locked in our garage. Should we inform the police, or just take it all up the tip? What would you do?

AnotherJoe

I would put a note on the door saying "you have 14 days to come and claim it after which it will be destroyed". I'd take a picture of that. Then I'd probably dump everything except the bike and stick that in a corner soemwhere, its not as if you need the space obviously !
I wonder if they also own or rent a nearby house and have got the garage they should be using wrong, rather than just a chancer ?

robber2

If you don't need the space perhaps you could offer to rent it to them.



Rob

G_M

You do have a (legal) duty of care and cannot simply dispose of somone else's property without giving them an opportunity to reclaim them.


As anotherjoe says, a (decent sized) notice giving either your address and/or phone number.


Although the article below is written for landlords who have todeal with a former tenant's abandoned possessions, the same laws apply in this case too.


https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/information/uncollected-goods

[Deleted User]

AnotherJoe wrote: »

I wonder if they also own or rent a nearby house and have got the garage they should be using wrong, rather than just a chancer ?

Thats what I thought at first, but they clearly didn't have a key as the door was tied down with string which makes me think think they knew it wasn't theirs.

robber2 wrote: »

If you don't need the space perhaps you could offer to rent it to them.

We don't need the space, and would happily discussed renting it to them had they asked.

[Deleted User]

G_M wrote: »

You do have a (legal) duty of care and cannot simply dispose of somone else's property without giving them an opportunity to reclaim them.


As anotherjoe says, a (decent sized) notice giving either your address and/or phone number.


Although the article below is written for landlords who have todeal with a former tenant's abandoned possessions, the same laws apply in this case too.


https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/information/uncollected-goods

Thanks, we have a village facebook group with quite a few people in it, and I thought about posting something there asking the person to contact us, although that seems a bit public?

AnotherJoe

Deleted_User wrote: »

Thats what I thought at first, but they clearly didn't have a key as the door was tied down with string which makes me think think they knew it wasn't theirs.

We don't need the space, and would happily discussed renting it to them had they asked.

They might be renting and just think the key was lost or the lock didnt work.
Did they break the lock is it broken ?
By all means ask on facebook but you dont know they are on your village group, you do know they visit your garage so put a notice on that, with a date for disposal if thats what you want to do. Or if you are in no rush, just a note to contact you.

[Deleted User]

AnotherJoe wrote: »

They might be renting and just think the key was lost or the lock didnt work.
Did they break the lock is it broken ?
By all means ask on facebook but you dont know they are on your village group, you do know they visit your garage so put a notice on that, with a date for disposal if thats what you want to do. Or if you are in no rush, just a note to contact you.

There is a handle that you lock, but theres no visible signs of break in and to be honest the garages are old and not very secure at all (another reason we don't really use it). Wouldn't be surprised if you yanked the door open and the lock would come loose or something.

Albala

Might it just be some kids playing?