Would you let this lady rent your land/stables?

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Scampi

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I have an advert on a couple of websites advertising 2-2.5 acres (can split if required) , stable block , water supply, electric fencing, some post/rail fencing, jumps avail, help avail if required etc etc.

A lady phoned me tonight saying she lives about 10-15 mins away from us, in a council house, she has a 2yo colt, lost her grazing (where she was paying 12.50 a week) so at the mo this colt is in a shed in her garden and she borrows half of her neighbour's garden to let him out to 'stretch his legs'. Someone told the council of her and now the coucil said she needs to find him another home within 18 days.
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Our land/stables are at the back of our house. My mum is a little worried that she sounds rough, lives in a rough area and if we didnt 'agree' on anything she might be 'bother!'

She only wants 1 acre and 1 stable for him. Possibly the tack/feed room or another stable for storage. She is desperate to find him somewhere as otherwise she will have to take him to the sales and she really doesnt want to do that to him. He is for her and her grandchildren (she is getting him gelded) and wants him as a cart horse eventually. She doesn't drive and doesn't work.

Firstly, would you be happy to let her rent your field/stable? How much per week would you charge? (she wants 1 acre, 1 stable, storage space - either tack/feed room or another stable) plus will obviously want water, electric.
 
There are perfectly nice people living on a Council Estate, so I would not necessarily have any issue with that. However, I would be worried that she has a 2 year old colt. Why? If this is the sense she has regarding horse keeping, I wouldn't.

If you do decide to say yes, make sure you have a water-tight agreement, with a good get-out clause should she not pay etc.

Just re-read and you say it will be gelded. I would want to know why she lost her grazing and where her income comes from, those on benefits do have a habit of not paying, as I have found to my cost.
 
Help that pony and get him the hell out of her shed! Please ignore your prejudices and help them- at least she is being honest about her situation.
 
I would be inclined to say yes - but perhaps invite her to the yard first for her to have a look around and you can see if she seems okay or otherwise.
A good livery agreement may also quell any worries you have.
 
All i can say is no, it doesnt feel right to me, no-one keeps a horse in a shed unless they know nothing, there is aways a feild somewhere for a horse even short term, so i dont buy her story.

Nothing to do with prejudices or where she lives, she just sounds too naive and not at all ideal

Walk away
 
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She doesn't drive and doesn't work.


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If she doesn't work, how is she going to pay you? How is she going to pay to get her horse gelded? How is she going to pay for it's feed, shoeing, hay, shavings, vets bills? The cart??!!
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Last time I checked my bank balance, the horses took most of it and my husband and I both work!!
 
Just because someone lives on a council estate/in a council house, doesnt work and doesnt drive, these are not any reasons not to rent a yard/field to someone.
She may have perfectly genuine reasons for not working. At the end of the day, if you were not fit to work but your horse was your life and kept you sane would you get rid of it or keep it somewhere affordable to you? (touchy subject - friend been signed off long term sickness, on disability benefits, can afford to keep horse no problem - if she didnt have it, she would have probably given up on life by now - and no I am not exagerating).
Secondly, it wouldnt be the 1st time I have known someone to loose their grazing at short notice and been forced to keep pony/ies in back garden (albeit temporary basis), but yes it does actually happen. At least she didnt just dump him somewhere!!!
What I would do if it was me would be to try and find out why she lost her last place in the 1st place. Was it through no fault of her own or due to the fact she never paid the rent? I would also try and obtain some references for her too - not just personal but perhaps her farrier and vet for example, that way you will get some idea on how she looks after the pony.
Finally, I would meet up with her (which you have already agreed to do I believe?) and see what you think of her.
She has at least been honest with you from the start and she could actually turn out to be a genuine person.
Be carefull but please do not discriminate against her just because she lives in a council property!!!
 
Now would this be the same lady who has a boyfriend who accidentally impregnates his X-girlfriend and then wants to move as far awayas possible from his kids.

Or am I just mixing your posts up with Horse_Gal's
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[ QUOTE ]
Just because someone lives on a council estate/in a council house, doesnt work and doesnt drive, these are not any reasons not to rent a yard/field to someone.
She may have perfectly genuine reasons for not working. At the end of the day, if you were not fit to work but your horse was your life and kept you sane would you get rid of it or keep it somewhere affordable to you? (touchy subject - friend been signed off long term sickness, on disability benefits, can afford to keep horse no problem - if she didnt have it, she would have probably given up on life by now - and no I am not exagerating).
Secondly, it wouldnt be the 1st time I have known someone to loose their grazing at short notice and been forced to keep pony/ies in back garden (albeit temporary basis), but yes it does actually happen. At least she didnt just dump him somewhere!!!
What I would do if it was me would be to try and find out why she lost her last place in the 1st place. Was it through no fault of her own or due to the fact she never paid the rent? I would also try and obtain some references for her too - not just personal but perhaps her farrier and vet for example, that way you will get some idea on how she looks after the pony.
Finally, I would meet up with her (which you have already agreed to do I believe?) and see what you think of her.
She has at least been honest with you from the start and she could actually turn out to be a genuine person.
Be carefull but please do not discriminate against her just because she lives in a council property!!!

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I agree that she just may not be trouble, but to be honest, as the saying goes! "If it walks like a duck and looks like a duck" Would you not have thought she would have approached a horse charity, for short term care rather than keep it in a shed? As we all know horses cost a fortune to keep nowadays, how will she manage to pay with no income? Just sounds a bit risky to me.
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Was going to do an affronted post on behalf of council tenants as I'm one but can't summon up the energy
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I agree with a lot of suzyqet's/tasteofchaos' posts. Get references and give the woman a chance if they check out and you get along ok when you meet her. You never know she might be just what you are looking for to share your stables with
 
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, would she be able to pay the the livery rent or take care of her horse without working? I know I couldn't.

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I am sure tax payers won't mind funding her benefits for this purpose
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am sure tax payers won't mind funding her benefits for this purpose

a bloke near us is an alcoholic and we tax payers are paying £70 a week for him to keep his dogs with him.
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Yes I think I would let her in the first instance as she sounds desparate, make it clear it's a trial period.
 
When I first met my FO, he asked if I worked and what I did and said that he would only accept the field rent by direct debit as he had problems before with previous tenants not paying up and then doing a runner.

Not saying that this lady would do this but I would proceed with caution, draw up an agreement and follow my FO's advice on taking rent by direct debit.
 
I'd suggest that she could rent the land and stables, but all of it,pays by Direct debit 3 months up front in advance and that the colt has to be gelded before she comes to you.
 
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How snobby
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Indeed, having benefits means guaranteed income, so no need to worry about her loosing her job. Simples
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Agree with the OP - would the other acre be difficult to rent on its own? Access etc?

Suggest that she rents all or none??

Pays 3 months in advance and must visit the colt at least once a day as you don't want to be lumbered with it.

Other thing to consider is that many break their horses in at 2yrs old. Do you want the grandchildren running around the place?
 
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I'd suggest that she could rent the land and stables, but all of it,pays by Direct debit 3 months up front in advance and that the colt has to be gelded before she comes to you.

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No-one would be stupid enough to do that... And very few people are able to pay 3 months in advance, let alone someone who's unemployed!
 
Whatever your reasons, if you have any concerns about it (which you have cos you posted) I would say no. hindsight is a wonderful thing. Everything might go perfectly fine but if it doesn't you will always beat yourself up cos you had doubt to begin with. Suggest welfare organisations for temp accommodation and just explain you not happy to rent part of the land and with having a colt.
 
**** Indeed, having benefits means guaranteed income, so no need to worry about her loosing her job. Simples ****

Roflmao, I wonder what Alexander Orlov would say
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This one has set me up for the day
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I personally wouldn't do it, at a previous yard we had a man who got chucked off a yard for non payment and not coming up to do his horse and he took it away to live in his garden.

I would offer the woman some money for the colt to get him out that situation but her circumstances seem a bit car crash to me in that most people have better alternatives to hand than keeping their horses in the garden.

Also I think your plot will rent better as a whole.
 
Check for references from her vet and farrier,ask when it was last wormed vaccinated etc and if you can get that sort of imfo off her then rent on a trial period...
 
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