Yard issues- what would you do?

reindeerlover

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I have been renting a small yard for the last few months and just before xmas was given notice (in a rather rude way, by text message) as my horses were chewing the fence posts.

I am leaving this weekend and will be buying new posts to replace the few that they have chewed. However- as it is January and the fields are a horrible muddy wet mess, I have not harrowed as agreed. I have also made a muddy track where I drive the haylage/water down to the field as there is no tap and 4 horses. This may make me sound like a bit of a lazy bum! I am happy to harrow and roll and reseed and would have done so when the ground dried up in Spring (I intended to keep this yard for some time). As I am effectively being kicked out early, although there was no contract, I have not been able to return the place to its previous state.

I am meeting with the owners at the weekend to hand over the keys etc and will have all the new posts purchased. I just don't know what to do about the muddy, unharrowed fields. I would love to return the yard to them in a lovely shiny state but it is impossible to do so at this time of year and I have a horrible feeling that they will want to charge me for it. Depending on how much they want to charge obviously, I have a problem with this as I would be more than willing to do it myself as soon as the ground dries and it would only cost me some fuel. What would you do? What would you expect in this situation from either party?
 
See what they say and if it is mentioned then:

(a)offer to do it, either now (which as you know will not be very good for the fields as they are too wet, but hey ho you will have done the deed)
(b) offer to return and do them in the spring when the fields have dried.
(c) offer them the cost of the fuel, which it would have cost you to do anyway.
 
You say there was no contract - why even bother sorting the fields in this case? If they have turfed you off abruptly, why bother to do them a favour?

If you have to do something to the fields, I would tell them that you will come back in spring to do it when the ground is drier, or you would be happy to destroy the fields now - whatever they decide!
 
Just return the place . Tell them that in the absence of a contract your liabilities are very limited ,but that you have supplied fence posts . Any liability for anything further needs to be discussed with your land agent. Leave it short and sweat. If they wish to come back at you for more money ,then find a good land agent. Dont discuss or negotiate. Its like in the movies, you have people to do this for you.(even if you dont:D)
 
Land agent? I like your style! I'll get my people to talk to their people ;) Thanks everyone, I appreciate your comments. I wanted to sort the land just so that I feel ok that I have done everything I can but I see your points maybe just say fup it and move on.
 
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