Help with unwanted sharers in field.

[Cinnamontoast]

So of the OP has paid for the next year, her name is on the tenancy, the other person isn’t on the tenancy and has no moral or legal obligation after next week when the year she paid for is up? I’d be sending a formal letter to her home address giving 7 days’ notice with charges laid out for any further days, but with a firm instruction to vacate the field.

 

[Winters100]

So of the OP has paid for the next year, her name is on the tenancy, the other person isn’t on the tenancy and has no moral or legal obligation after next week when the year she paid for is up? I’d be sending a formal letter to her home address giving 7 days’ notice with charges laid out for any further days, but with a firm instruction to vacate the field.

Logically I agree, but I think OP needs to check what the legal position is, because without a lease or written agreement what rights does the sub-tenant acquire? This is interesting reading https://www.netlawman.co.uk/ia/agricultural-lease-licence

I respect of a domestic or commercial property you cannot just give 7 days notice to vacate, even if the lease is expiring, since the steps that have to be taken are dictated by law. I don't know what happens about agricultural land though, because from a brief look it appears that the types of tenancies are varied. Good news is that they are not living on the land or running a business, so that seems a little more straightforward. Best to check the position before acting, and also to remember that these people used to be your friends, and once the dust has settled you always feel better about yourself if you can honestly say that you acted reasonably. To me 7 days is too little time, but if there are genuinely other options 14 days seems reasonable to expect someone to make proper arrangements.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I just wrote a long reply and it's gone so here goes.
Contract is in my name, yes I sold my horse last year and unfortunately it happened just as the next year's rent was due and I also have to give notice to quit a year in advance.. Which I hadn't done as didn't know at the time. My friend was obviously wanting the field and to keep her horse there so she said they would pay the rent for the upcoming year.. This is now almost up and I've paid for the forth coming year myself.
The field was a bare field when I got it, full of ragwort and weeds, no gate, no water. I worked for 4 years solid on the weeds, fixed and installed fencing, installed water access down the whole field and bought gates and locks. Also put down hardstanding in the gateway and rubber mats.
Non of which my friend helped with, physically or financially, she barely even saw her horse week to week so that was on me too. I charged her token rent and used that money to put back into the field. I had it harrowed and rolled every year. All the money I spent I've documented to prove I never used the field to make money.
I also made clear to the estate agent that I was intending on sharing the field as it was too big and too much work for one horse one person and he emailed back to say that was acceptable - I just wasn't allowed to run a livery.
So Yes now a year on of my 'friends' ignoring me and thinking they have rights to all my belongings to do as they please with I've decided I want to have it back.
I never said they could have the field as its not my place to say that.
I intend getting another horse and want to get back to what I miss... Taking care of the land.
So they have no right to be there.
As for people saying I should leave them too it and go elsewhere... Why would I want to pay 5times more to keep a horse in a different town when I have a field I've spent 4 years putting my heart and soul into at the end of my road?
I made a mistake selling my horse and now I'd like to have another one. One person in the field is there without my permission, the other originally was there as my guest, my sharer. But now they have changed the locks when they know full well the year they paid for is almost over and I want it back

OP - what a mess. The agent's agreement was to you sharing the field, as long as you didnt run a livery. you say you charged your friend "rent" so it could be argued you had a livery. You also did not pay for a year, yet your friend did, so that isnt sharing, its sub letting.

If you dont want to go down the legal advice route and are determined to get your friend off the place, then your only other option is to tell said friend that you will be coming on the day their "rent" ends and will require a key for access as you are getting a new horse and will be keeping it there. Go up often and get things sorted, so that the place is maintaned again. You can tell them that you need the whole place again and they need to find somewhere else.

It all sounds a right pickle and I feel for the friend. My advice is, if tou get the field back then dont bring anyone else onto it, just keep it for yourself.

 

[ycbm]

If the 'friends' paid the rent in full last year then weren't they a livery?

OP, you need a solicitor if these people don't agree to move off.

.

 

[Clodagh]

Yes I currently have no horse but could easily have one within days on loan. They paid the estate agents direct for last year's rent. No money crossed my hands and no contracts verbal or otherwise were agreed with my friend.
I could regain access by cutting their lock once the rent year is up and I have a farmer willing to lend me some sheep if need be so I have livestock on the land

Just to say I think you have possibly been a little unworldy in this, but we all do things out of kindness sometimes without really thinking it through. Good luck and can you please let us know how you get on?