Sons belongings

mommygoose

saajan_12 said:

With abandoned goods, you generally have to
a) give notice to son of where the items, how long you will hold them
b) hold them for a reasonable amount of time (usually considered to be ~ 30 days)
c) then sell them, deducting reasonable costs to sell (your effort, sale fees, etc) 
d) return the balance to son

In pratice, if the value of the items are less than the reasonable cost of selling (eg an old duvet that'll only fetch £10 but cost more to photograph, list online, shipping, etc) then you might just dispose of the items. However you take the risk that son could legally claim the value of the items (less selling costs) and you might have to justify why that would be cost prohibitive. 

Just outlining the legal position so you know the worst case. Adjust for the likelihood that son will actually take it that far.. eg someone who can't be bothered to pick up items might not be bothered to file a court claim. However someone that's arguing wiht you might file just even it it wasn't logical. 

I gave him two months notice that I was changing the locks and I'm now giving him four weeks notice to collect belongings or they will be put outside. He's a very unreasonable person and will file a claim but he has done considerable damage to my house and I have had to get the police out before.

mommygoose

born_again said:

Could you move them to the Grandparents?

I've suggested this to him but he says there's no room.

FreeBear

mommygoose said: He's a very unreasonable person and will file a claim but he has done considerable damage to my house and I have had to get the police out before.

If he does file a claim, you counter claim for the damages caused. As long as you have plenty of evidence of both the damage and the costs of repairs, there is a very good chance you would win.

elsien

mommygoose said:

born_again said:

Could you move them to the Grandparents?

I've suggested this to him but he says there's no room.

it’s also seems very unfair on the grandparents. What sort of belongings are we talking about here? – tatty old clothes or expensive electronics, for example. 

Tabieth

born_again said:

Could you move them to the Grandparents?

Why? How do the grandparents feel about this?

silvercar

Are you on speaking terms with the grandparents? If your relationship with your son has broken down, then maybe you could speak to the grandparents.

It seems very sad that your relationship with your own child has come to this, so maybe keeping a line of communication with his grandparents would be worthwhile.

WIAWSNB

mommygoose said:

born_again said:

Could you move them to the Grandparents?

I've suggested this to him but he says there's no room.

What physical quantity of goods is there? What would be required to transport it?

I'm not going to comment on the ethics of the case as we don't know what has gone on between you - other than to say 'what a terrible shame' - but if you are 100% certain that your relationship has broken down, and are 100% certain you want his possessions out of your home, then I cannot see any valid reason why you cannot deliver his goods to him - it's then his issue. Ie, you leave them outside his grandparent's front door, and inform him/them of this. They have then been returned to him, and is now his responsibility. Take photos.

I cannot see any possible action being taken against you for this - if anyone were to call the police, they wouldn't take his side; "You have your goods - what more do you want?". 

You have given him adequate time to collect, and he has presumably intentionally refused.

Since you would expect him to be intentionally awkward with any other mthod of disposal, then that one is surely trouble-free? Other than the physical hassle - but you could pay a 'man-with-van'. 

Section62

WIAWSNB said:

mommygoose said:

born_again said:

Could you move them to the Grandparents?

I've suggested this to him but he says there's no room.

...then I cannot see any valid reason why you cannot deliver his goods to him - it's then his issue. Ie, you leave them outside his grandparent's front door, and inform him/them of this. They have then been returned to him, and is now his responsibility. Take photos.

I cannot see any possible action being taken against you for this - if anyone were to call the police, they wouldn't take his side; "You have your goods - what more do you want?". 

You have given him adequate time to collect, and he has presumably intentionally refused.

Since you would expect him to be intentionally awkward with any other mthod of disposal, then that one is surely trouble-free? Other than the physical hassle - but you could pay a 'man-with-van'. 

The risk is leaving the goods outside the front door and insecure means that items may be stolen or damaged between the time they are left and the time the son comes home (assuming he isn't at home at the time).

Which means making an arrangement to drop them off when the son is there, which he may refuse to do, and in any event risks a doorstep confrontation that probably won't be helpful to anyone.

I also tend to agree with others that dumping this on the grandparents - even if unintentional - isn't really fair on them, and risks alienating them when the OP might (in future) need them to act as a go-between.

The advice from others is better.  Give him notice to collect, keep until that date, sell or dispose if not collected.

mommygoose

elsien said:

mommygoose said:

born_again said:

Could you move them to the Grandparents?

I've suggested this to him but he says there's no room.

it’s also seems very unfair on the grandparents. What sort of belongings are we talking about here? – tatty old clothes or expensive electronics, for example. 

Lots and lots of clothes, multigym etc 

silvercar

Do you desperately need the space? Presumably you had room for him before you evicted him, now you only have his belongings. Do you need to use the space for something else?

My adult children have left home, yet I still have some of their stuff in their old bedrooms.