YO/Liveries - deposits for damage - do you?

The Fuzzy Furry

The Fuzzy Furry

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Do you take a 'damage deposit' from liveries - or if a livery, do you pay one?
(bit like renting a house - in paying a deposit really)

Only asking, as having been bitten rather hard by a livery who I had to ask to go (see previous postings back in November about dappy livery) - and was left with bills amounting to nearly £200 which she would not (eventually when pressed) pay for, then she left in 24 hours with horse, the day after I gave her 2 months written notice, this was 1 day before the next months rent was due.
This despite even writing in the yard note book 'sorry, will pay for this/that' (broken NEW wooden fence postsm due to her forgetting to not put on the electric fencing etc) months prior, is now refusing via phone to pay, so have written the debt off - but thats my 2 neddies farrier bill for the next few months blown :(

I'm now very reluctant to take another livery (just the one horse/pony) without without asking for a deposit of some sort :(

Your thoughts please
 
I paid £100 deposit where I am now.

I pay my livery bill a month in advance, but that obviously doesn't cover damage. I would happily pay a month's livery fee as a refundable deposit.
 
My YM gets one months rent as a deposit.... this is mainly in case people do a moonlight flit I think.....

She has never charged anyone for broken fencing etc.... There was a pony there a few years ago that would just smash out, even if a strand of electric was put around. In the end she asked the owner to buy their own electric fencing and make it a pen in the field. Was sad because the pen had to be small enough so that he could get up enough speed to jump out, but he was putting himself and the other horses at risk constantly by always smashing through the fencing. That was the main reason, not the cost of the wood....
 
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Mine should be one months deposit in advance for reasons such as this (this has been written into contract for past 3 yards I've been at) although each YO has been happy to trust and simply said not to bother with the deposit.
I've always given plenty of notice and I do think they've all been very trusting considering none of them knew me when I arrived with my pony and nor have they asked for any references etc.

I should have paid for my first month's livery as well as a deposit when I first arrived although I got told to waive the deposit, and "just bring the livery money whenever as we trust you."
 
where i keep mine, we paid one months stable rent as a bond (108.50) which will have deductions if there is any major damage caused (i.e out of the norm, not everyday wear and tear), If there are any outstanding fees they will also come out of that when the livery leaves. If there is no damage/outstanding fees, we get the bond back in full.

We pay one month in advance too, so at least the owners know that their paid up for the month. If you want to leave you give a months notice, so if you decide you want to move tomoro you're still liable to pay for the following month (so you'd lose your bond). We all also pay the monthly stable rent by direct debit straight into their bank account. Then we pay our sundries bills (haylage, bedding and wormers) either by cheque or cash.

I think its wise to have a contract written up, giving examples of the types of damage which would incurr costs for the livery (such as if the livery forgets to put eleccy fence on and so the permenant fencing gets damaged) and what would be acceptable as wear and tear.

I think in this day and age, even if you only take on one or two liveries, these are all the sorts of things which may be uncomfortable to initialise (especially with friends!) but in the long run will make life easier if things go wrong.
 
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I paid 1 months rent as a refundable deposit.

As moving horses was quite expensive, settling final bill on my previous yard (YO was useless at regular billing) plus month upfront on new yard plus deposit plus it was December, my YO let me pay in two installments as I think she was quite keen for liveries.

If I owned / ran a yard I would ask for a month deposit - have seen too many people disappear owing bills ...:eek:

Rent is paid by standing order on the 1st of each month, we are responsible for own hay, wormers etc so YO just gets rent.
 
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Thanks all - I wrote a long considered reply but it got 'lost' when I hit the submit reply button :mad:

To sum up they had a contract but they broke 3 regs in the contract, also 3 more in the loan agreement for my small pony.
They paid by direct debit monthly in advance - and had never defaulted in 3 yrs. Just buggered off on the last day of the month and refuse to pay for costs incurred.

So - why bother having a contract except to cover for H & S liabilities really.

Thanks for the input - I'll definately be taking at least 2 months in advance 'if' I ever take on another livery. But currently am enjoying the pair of mine at the yard at present all to myself :)
 
My Boarders pay one month in advance. If they owe money after just a fortnight of it being late I have the legal right to send the horse to auction to recoup my losses (Innkeepers Lien) I haven't used that right but I most certainly would.

I don't ask for damages, wear and tear happens.
Consistent fence breaking would just mean that the culprit gets put in a small paddock with mains hot wire - if the Owner didn't like it, then tough they can go on their merry way.
 
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