What are my rights if a contractor does not meet their obligations

ChrissieAP

I had an annual contract with a company who provided a wheelie bin and collected our waste every 2 weeks.  Because they missed a number of collection dates as well as other reasons, I did not renew the contract. It ended at the end of August although we did not get any collections after mid-August, therefore short-changing us again. They said the bin would be picked up within 30 days (i.e by end of September).  I am still waiting and despite a number of calls and emails from me and a promise to complain to the main contractor (they are a sub contractor) to date it remains on my property. I issued them with a storage invoice and I am about to send another but in a call to them today they said there is no way they will pay these.  Why can they use my property as free storage for a bin for 4-5 months without recourse?  Do I have any rights?  Thanks,

Aylesbury_Duck

In short, no.  Unless you can show a material loss as a result.  What has having their bin on your property cost you?

Ectophile

You have the rights of an"involuntary bailee". And those rights aren't great. You can't charge them storage unless they have agreed to it - you can't impose contracts on other people without their agreement.

There is a legal process for disposing of abandoned goods, but you have to follow it correctly, or be liable for the cost of the bin. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1977/32/schedule/1