Having to repaint an entire stable to get livery deposit back?!

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EquestrianFairy

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I left my yard on Saturday after 4 weeks written notice as I was so unhappy there. The YO was suitably rude to me but I kept my mouth shut and when she wouldnt allow the transport onto the yard I never said a word. She stated I would hear by 'letter' regarding my deposit.

I took a photo of my stable as proof and asked if she wanted me to disinfect it as well, she stated no.

I know they do not have my address as they never took my signed contract back off me.. So hey ho.

Yesterday my mother (?! Not me?!) gets a phonecall, they want the stable disinfected (no problem) AND fully repainted with the same paint they use (I have to buy) before my deposit is returned.. The stable is half black with waterproof paint and half White- the stable is HUGE!

I'm still reeling over why they want this done? It's not in my contract and it's not commonplace up there, the stables are painted once a year as they told me themselves every January. I feel he is purposely trying to humiliate me in front of the other liveries and I'm really upset over it all, im not a horrible person, I'm never rude and always pay my livery on time. It's going to take me a full day to get it done whilst other liveries laugh at my expense.

Can he do this?
 
if its not in your contract then you dont have to do it. Personally i would have disinfected it without asking and would probably go and do that anyway. regarding not giving your money back if you have your contract take it to CAb or a solicitor and they can send him a nice letter! Or threaten to do that when u disinfect stable see how quickly you get cash back!
 
Ah - that breed of YO !!

If it is not in your contract that you would have to do this, then how can it be dependant on your deposit ?? Surely the maintenence of the stable is his responsibility ??

Also - I have never paid a deposit on a stable before !! how much is it if you don't mind me asking ?
 
what utterly horrible people

unfortunately they have your money and it maybe difficult to get it back without just painting the dam stable

are you a member of BHS if so give them a call see what they say

if not drop her a letter saying you are and will be taking advice from them

or do what YO is hoping and just walk away

hugs as I too would be fuming
 
If it's not in the contract, then no. I would suggest a return letter requesting the deposit back, stating that if you do not have it by X date you will go through the small claims court. Then submit the forms on that date.
 
I would not give into their demands at all! I understand your situation and these people are being ridiculous. Sometimes you just have to let the money go and take it as a lesson. If it was a big deposit then take it further, but do not take it back up with them because you will never win.

I hate that the horse world is allowed to be so corrupt as it is.
 
Sadly some folk are plain rotten. I left a yard a few years ago, similar story to yours. Beforhand my horse booted the back of the stable out. My husband repaired as new but put some thicker marine ply up so if it got kicked again it wouldnt break. YO looked at it and was very happy. When it came to leaving I got the snottiest letter and £125 knocked of my deposit as that is what the stable builder would charge to replace. Luckily two can play those games and I owed her a months rent on 2 horses, so we broke even and she would never have the balls to come to my house.
TBH by the time you've done the job and bought the materials, you'll probably have no change from your deposit. So tell him to sod off and get some other mug to do it!
I agree with deposits and contracts, but they work both ways and some (hopefully a small some) YO's take advantage and there is very little you can do about it.
 
It was £150 which is more than a months livery. I'm regretting ever moving there as it's been horrid from day one.

He's the type of person that would laugh at a legal letter, he constantly goes on that he's from Essex (not local) and puts it across that people should be scared of him because of this very fact.

I'm torn between walking away at the expense of my own humility and pride or doing it and knowing deep down I'm not going to be getting the deposit back anytime soon anyway. :-(
 
EquestrianFairy said:
It was £150 which is more than a months livery. I'm regretting ever moving there as it's been horrid from day one.

He's the type of person that would laugh at a legal letter, he constantly goes on that he's from Essex (not local) and puts it across that people should be scared of him because of this very fact.

I'm torn between walking away at the expense of my own humility and pride or doing it and knowing deep down I'm not going to be getting the deposit back anytime soon anyway. :-(
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If he's that much of an arse, you might not get it back even if you do the work.
 
He sounds a right bully! Photocopy your contract, send him a copy with a letter demanding your money back within 10 days or you will start small claims proceedings. CAB may have a letter format you can follow. Good luck.
 
I get the impression from what you have said that you can whistle for the deposit back anyway. He will probably come up with another excuse. I would try a letter from the CAB and then put it down to experience and enjoy your horse in its new home,
 
Did your horse trash the stable? Part of your rent is to cover ongoing everyday wear and tear so to ask you to repaint the stable (unless horse has trashed it) is over the top.

Are other liveries asked to do this when they leave do you know? (YO may have a history of keeping deposits on slim pretexts)

What would I do in your shoes?
If the stable was in the same condition as when I arrived, in the same condition as the other stables in terms of paintwork. I would not repaint it and I would dig in and demand my full money back.

If things cut up rough I would be letting them know (by recorded delivery letter) the reasons why I considered them to be unreasonable (and breaking the terms of the deposit), attaching photographs, etc, stating that the deposit should be returned within 7 days etc. CC the letter to the local Trading Standards. If you are going to make a stand go in hard at the beginning.

Good luck :)
 
haha what a complete arse

AS you say nothing is going to get your money back!!

In which case I would find a way to say in front of others ' oh goodness me its only £150 if I'd realised you were that desperate for such a small donation I would have helped out earlier' :D
 
Love it soulfull! Haha!

My horse is out 24/7 unless we have a show so he probably spent a maximum of 4 days in the stable over the few months we have been there. The stable has no signs of paintwork issues at all. (I have a photo for proof)

My mother is begging me to not kick up a fuss, allow him to have his 'power trip' - do the stable and get the money back but i think I'm so upset over it all it's hard to give in.

He's alcoholic bully who seems to enjoy intimidating females. If we do go up, my dad and my Oh are coming!
 
Sorry but I don't think youre going to get your money back from him, even if you spend all day painting his stable for him, and maybe its just me, ( I can be a stubben cow sometimes, ) but I'd be buggered before I gave him the satisfaction of doing any work for him.
I know $ ( i don't have a pound sign )150 is a fair bit of money, but I think its one of those times where you chalk it up to experience, and hope that there is such a thing as Karma.
Kx
 
EquestrianFairy said:
Love it soulfull! Haha!

My horse is out 24/7 unless we have a show so he probably spent a maximum of 4 days in the stable over the few months we have been there. The stable has no signs of paintwork issues at all. (I have a photo for proof)

My mother is begging me to not kick up a fuss, allow him to have his 'power trip' - do the stable and get the money back but i think I'm so upset over it all it's hard to give in.

He's alcoholic bully who seems to enjoy intimidating females. If we do go up, my dad and my Oh are coming!
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:D

oh what an idea, take as many BIG men as you can find, say they are helping you paint it for him :D Amazing how a group of men on your side will make it seem far less humiliating :D Then don't leave til you get your money! even wait while he goes to the bank, or one of your big friends could give him a lift :D
 
As a YO if you have not signed a contract in which it states that the stable must be disinfected and painted when you leave in order to get your deposit back then no you dont have to at all and if he is withholding your deposit speak to CAB as you can not be in breach of a contract you havent got.

All I ask my girls to do is clean the stables and I jeyes fluid and jet wash them and if need be I will repaint them and make any minor repairs if needed for the next livery.

It's people like him that give YO and bad name
 
if it was me id go to his stable to paint it, paint you are a Tw*T in massive letters over it and the stable door, go find him, show him my handy work and tell him to stick the £150 where the sun dont shine...!

And walk off very satisfied with myself.
 
speighty79 said:
if it was me id go to his stable to paint it, paint you are a Tw*T in massive letters over it and the stable door, go find him, show him my handy work and tell him to stick the £150 where the sun dont shine...!

And walk off very satisfied with myself.
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unfortunately that is called 'criminal damage'
 
Unless its in your contract he can not by law request that you repaint the stable. I would write him a letter with a copy of your contract and requesting he return your full deposit within 7-14 (your choice) days. Failure to do so will leave you with no other option but to pursue the matter via the courts. Sent it signed for so you have proof he recieved it, other wise he could say he didnt.

If you put Without Prejudice on the letter too will make it look legal and means you re trying to settle it out of court.

Out of principal I would not let him get away with it nor would I paint his stable, he's trying his luck.

There is no reason why you should not request your deposit back and not paint his stable, and sorry to say your family should support you not allow this bully to win.
 
Does he pay business rates. income tax on the livery etc etc? If he is the sort to use such sharp practice for £150 my bet is that he doesn't, it may not get you your money back, but oh the satisfaction of dobbing him in :D
 
Obviously the stable should be spotless when you leave it, washed out and disinfected, and swept clean etc (and you shouldn't ask if it's to be done). But as the others have said, unless it's in your contract you shouldn't have to paint it. This, in any case, would be part of his maintenance of his business I'd imagine.
 
soulfull said:
haha what a complete arse

AS you say nothing is going to get your money back!!

In which case I would find a way to say in front of others ' oh goodness me its only £150 if I'd realised you were that desperate for such a small donation I would have helped out earlier' :D
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^^^this is briliant!!!!^^^^

I'd personally ring CAB and see what they say or even the BHS as they're obviously horse specialised. I had problems, not the same as yours but landlord related with my paddocks and I contacted an equine lawyer. They basically said, it's all down to the contract and advised me to send a copy to them and they'd take a look at it! (I didn't do this, as I was able myself to read it and see what conditions were laid down etc!). I'd read through the contract and if nothing is mentioned regarding a whole repaint of stable when vacating, I wouldn't do it at all! You can either say goodbye to your money (preferably SOULFUL style!!) and look forward or pursue the matter further through letters and support from the BHS/CAB. I'v never known a yard make you repaint an entire stable and can't really understand it! He sounds a complete idiot and no wonder you've left! I thought it was common knowledge that horses had a chew of things, rubbed their bums against things etc! That's just what they do and is classed as general wear and tear! I doubt very much though that your horse has nibbled all of the paintwork off, so really can't justify his demands!!!
 
I cannot see how thye can make you do this it would need to be in contract. We had a contract for lease of business property, that specified we had to paint on departure, and they did not enforce it. You are normally only expected to repair damage, not every day wear and tear when tenanting a property. I would disinfect, and then seek legal advice re painting. It may take time and money to get your bond back but you should be succesful. Or you can just paint and take it.
 
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