How long would you expect livery yard to keep your things?

pixie

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I had to ask a livery to leave recently. She took her horses away nearly two weeks ago, but has left some of her things around the yard. She said a week ago that she would be back for them within a few days, but as usual what she says and what she does are two very different things. So as not to drip feed, she also owes me money (though I'm just glad to have her off the yard tbh).

So, how long should I leave it before binning her things?
 
I nearly always have some stuff left when a livery leaves, the only one that left owing money I did suggest she left her rugs to be picked up with a few other things when she brought me the cash, needless to say she never returned so I sold the rugs, the wheelbarrow is still in use.

I would send her a message asking for them to be collected this weekend with the money brought at the same time, if she didn't turn up I would wait another week before getting rid.
 
I was under the impression you can't dispose of another persons belongings legally unless you've told them in writing that if they don't collect them by X date they will be sold/disposed of. Years ago a tenant did a bunk owing us rent and very kindly leaving a wreck of a car on the drive. I had to write to him before we could get rid of it.

Regarding liveries stuff, I've been on my yard for 5 years and there is still a cupboard full of bits and pieces belonging to someone who was there before me!
 
If anyone leaves anything at mine, I bung it in a box and leave it in the corner of the tackroom. If they don't collect it, the stuff gradually makes it's way out of the box, and into use.
 
I think dry cleaners and shoe repair places tend to keep for 6 months or so and then give to charity (they'll have a sign up in your local one probably so you can have a check!).

Suggest you write/email/whatever you normally do saying you need the stuff collected by [whenever] and after that point will offer to the local RDA? Choose the [whenever] based on how much stuff/how much you need the space etc.

In future add something to you contracts? E.g. by end of paid for period? So, if notice is a month, they can take the horse whenever but leave the stuff until end of the paid for month?
 
As detailed by Warwickshire Police in relation to found property.

Q:Requirement for finder to retain

A:If a finder attends a police station with an item of found property, which they would wish to 'claim' should the owner not be identified, the finder will be invited to retain the item unless a prohibition on retention exists (certain items you are prohibited by law from retaining). Where a finder retains an item they are advised, in order to minimise any criminal or civil liability, to retain the item for at least 28 days before disposing of it.

As you know who the owner is I would suggest that you send a recorded letter to them outlining that they have left their property, itemise property, at your yard. The property has been there for 14 days & if not collected in the next 14 days then 28 days will have lapsed & you will consider that the property has been abandoned & it will will be disposed of. Send it recorded delivery so you know the letter has reached its destination.

Good Luck
 
I certainly wouldn't expect a YO to keep my stuff for long if I owed them money

I suspect normal adult behaviour would be for her to contact the YO, arrive and pay all money that was owed as agreed and collect any belongings whilst there but it would seem it is your responsibility to let her know you have her stuff (Which she knows anyway) and then do your best to help her out, whilst she still owes you money.

The older I get the less all these rules make any sense
 
Id tell her she can only collect her stuff ONCE she has paid what she owes, and that needs to happen in the next fortnight (give a date) otherwise you'll sell her stuff to make up the money she owes.
 
Thanks guys.
Yes, sadly it seems that as usual I have to remain the grown up. Locks are being changed this weekend as she is yet to return keys either.
Rumour has it she is already looking to move to from the yard she has just moved to :S
 
As detailed by Warwickshire Police in relation to found property.

Q:Requirement for finder to retain

A:If a finder attends a police station with an item of found property, which they would wish to 'claim' should the owner not be identified, the finder will be invited to retain the item unless a prohibition on retention exists (certain items you are prohibited by law from retaining). Where a finder retains an item they are advised, in order to minimise any criminal or civil liability, to retain the item for at least 28 days before disposing of it.

As you know who the owner is I would suggest that you send a recorded letter to them outlining that they have left their property, itemise property, at your yard. The property has been there for 14 days & if not collected in the next 14 days then 28 days will have lapsed & you will consider that the property has been abandoned & it will will be disposed of. Send it recorded delivery so you know the letter has reached its destination.

Good Luck

^^^^ Granted this is the "official" police advice for what they would term as "found property"'; however the situation OP has with this troublesome livery is a little different in that this is not "found property", it is what could be described as "abandoned" property.

I had this situation with a rug-cleaning person who'd called and collected some of my rugs for washing, then delivered them back, and in the parcel I found a rug which wasn't mine. I called her, repeatedly, e-mailed, texted, rang again, and sent out the bleddi carrier pidgeon, all to no avail! This was someone else's rug, not mine! And I did feel awful (tho' not my fault) as it was a nice rug and obviously someone would be missing it. Anyway, six months passed, unbelievably, and at the end of November I wrote to the woman, recorded delivery, to say that if the rug wasn't collected by 31st December then I would be donating it to a local horse rescue. December 31st arrived, nothing, no contact or anything. It was just getting dimpsy on the evening of the 31st December, I was just doing the Neds down in the yard, when who should arrive but this bleddi woman to collect the rug! Truly unbelievable. Some people just extract the urine..........

As the livery owes the OP some money, in addition to leaving her tatt, then my feeling is that the OP would be perfectly justified in writing (recorded delivery) to the errant livery, saying basically that unless she collects her junk within say 14 days (28 if you want to be generous) then it will be sold to defray her outstanding expenses and/or if not sellable disposed of (bonfire!).

And do it.
 
I had to ask a livery to leave recently. She took her horses away nearly two weeks ago, but has left some of her things around the yard. She said a week ago that she would be back for them within a few days, but as usual what she says and what she does are two very different things. So as not to drip feed, she also owes me money (though I'm just glad to have her off the yard tbh).

So, how long should I leave it before binning her things?


I would now send her a text and drop her a line and say you will hold onto the things until this date(**) after that date, if she has not removed them you reserve the right to dispose of them as you see fit.
 
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