Storing Property

[2sp_]

(Hope you've all had a good Chirstmas!)

Looking for some advice for a friend (honest, not me!).

She has fallen out with her grown up son, no chance of a reconciliation. He is in his 40s, and had a lot of stuff (clothes, tools, general household junk) stored in her shed. She wants him to get all his things moved, but he is dragging his feet about it all.

I've suggested getting a Solicitor to write to him, see if that shakes him up a bit. I've said she should give him a set period of time to make arrangements to shift it all. Is there a set period she needs to give him - say 30 days? And what happens if he doesn't move it all? Can she legally dump it? Or sell it?

She's moving house soon, so needs to get his crap out of there asap!

[pdq1]

If it were me I would pack it up and put in boxes and store it all together in a place such as garage.

[bookbinder]

The solicitor should be able to answer all your questions.

[2sp_]

pdq1, she's already moved it all from the house itself into the garden shed. She now wants him to get it all shifted completely.

bookbinder, she's planning on seeing her Solicitor as soon as she can after the New Year. I was just wondering if anyone could give a bit of advice on the matter.

[ummmm]

I think she can give him a date to collect it by or she can legally dispose of it. Best to get the solicitor to actually write the letter though.

[grasscarp]

So sad. Maybe he doesnt want to pick up his things as he knows once he has he may never see his mother again.

[2sp_]

I agree ummmm, I've been advising her for ages to stop any contact with him - he really is a nasty piece of work. Best way forward is for the Solicitor to deal with him now.

Nobody as cruel as family at times.

[2sp_]

I don't think it's that grasscarp, he's the aggressor in the argument. He has already told her that he wants nothing to do with her.

[grasscarp]

OK. in that case your suggestion to her is good and the time limit will give him a chance to do something about picking it up or not expect it still to be there afterwards.

[ethandron]

Alternatively, rather than go to the expense of a solicitors letter, she could write to him herself, keeping a copy, saying the same thing ie. a date the items must be removed by, failing which she will dispose of them.

[2sp_]

ethandron, she did consider that, but doesn't know how she stands with the law regarding the amount of time she needs to give him.

She doesn't want to end up with the police on her doorstep if she chucks it all out.

[pdq1]

Engage a courier company and tell them where to drop it off. Some courier companys charge by the distance and vehicle used and others consider the weight. Choose the former.

[2sp_]

She has thought about that too, pdq1, but had concerns about how she would stand if something got damaged or they weren't in or refused to accept it when it arrived with them.

[boxtops]

Since she's moving, IMO she's entitled to write a letter to him (and yes, I'd probably get a solicitor to do it) saying "collect in 30 days or it will be disposed of".

[2sp_]

I thought 30 days was a reasonable period, especially as he has her trailer and could easily collect all his belongings in that. I doubt he'll give it back to her.

She just wants it all to be over, start the new year without all this hanging over her.

[albaqwerty]

If she wants to send him a letter, without a solicitor, do it Recorded or Special Delivery. Keep a copy and give him 30 days from the date of the letter.

[boxtops]

Special Delivery's better, IMO, as the delivery is tracked all the way along the line. RD only means it's signed for at the recipient's end - and he could refuse it. Tell her not to use her own handwriting on the envelope.

[2sp_]

Thanks everyone, I'll speak to her over the next few days and pass on all the advice.

[Canary42]

Tell her to set light to the shed - if he doesn't want anything more to do with her, he can't very well do anything about it.

[2sp_]

Love it Canary! I'd be scared to suggest that to her, she probably would!

[EDDIE51]

Recorded or special delivery makes no diffrence other than price . Just send the letter recorded and get a proof of posting that is enough to legally dispose of the items after the time set. He does not even have to have accepted it , just the fact that you sent the letter is proof that you gave him a chance to collect.