Neighbor issue WWYD?

[TiggerTrigger]

I'm glad you said something to the neighbor. The mere fact that the law considers it theft when it occurs during the mandated waiting period is enough to force that discussion concerning their wrongdoing. When you add in that they had to trespass to commit said theft, it just makes it that much worse. I know Blackstones can vary in price and resale is mixed, but some of those playhouses can fetch a decent amount in the resale market.

I think most people see evictions in TV shows and movies and assume it's some simple process. We owned a small apartment complex for a little over a decade and evictions are often costly headaches. You do what you can to try and recover some of those costs. Obviously, the old tenants could show up, but the reality is that they probably won't and your neighbor trespassed on your property and ultimately stole some of your ability to recoup those losses. If you have an attorney that you work with for your contracts, they might be willing to give you some legal thoughts off the record. I know we did that a number of times with our attorney.

We're also more sensitive to people thinking they're entitled to "piles" at houses. While not the same situation, there were a lot of people here that had insurance headaches after Hurricane Harvey because people thought they were entitled to rummage through debris piles and things on lawns of flooded homes. Those debris piles contained critical information to be assessed by insurance adjustors and had become part of the standard assessment process. The items taken from lawns of these homes also included things people were trying to salvage and tools (power and manual) that people were using for demo. Like someone else noted...people are bold, and it's often in all the wrong ways.

 

[china mom]

Yes, you are right but if you want to sell this person can cause you some serious trouble and if you are already on iffy ground I would avoid at all costs.

Did you happen to take photos of the stuff in the pile? At this, point really your neighbor could always just say the old residents gifted it all to her or asked her to take it from the street and so for that reason I would not engage in any way.

I suppose to my way of thinking the real question is if the grill worth creating serious long term problems many times more expensive (lawyers and time) than the used stuff? To me that would be a big resounding no.

I took a picture of part of the pile - to show DH and the grill playhouse and car are in the picture. She cant's tell me that she had permission because she hasn't interacted with the old tenant (based on our FB exchanges). She had no clue that the female half left in January after a domestic dispute and the new girlfriend had moved in so she didn't know them.

I do agree with you that the grill is not worth anyone lawyering up. I could file a criminal complaint against her for trespassing and maybe theft but really not worth it for me to do that. Like I said earlier, if the grill shows back up, great. If it doesn't, I will let it go but secretly hope whoever buys my house is horrible

 

[china mom]

Strange law that says the stuff has to be "left out". I understand the law expects landlords to keep items for a certain length of time, but I would assume the landlord needs to store it in a secure place. But your laws may be different.

Some states require the landlord store items for 30 days and give written notice of how to get it back. Some landlords are stuck wither not re-renting the house of renting a house sized storage until and it can go on even longer if the tenant has died.

I can put it out on the curb on eviction day but if you look at it my way, he has been storing his stuff in my house for free (plus living in it for free) for the past wo months. He has had more than enough notice.

 

[jimmymc]

First thing, assuming some old stuff on the right of way is free to take is a reasonable assumption to make. I think you did the right thing by sending a message and explaining the situation. If they don't return it, I would continue to message, and if they never return it, I'd probably let it go.

 

[china mom]

Here is part of the pile with the little tykes car, grill and playhouse. It's not worth it to me to sell the playhouse or the car and we will probably keep the grill for ourselves if it comes back. We are paying $800 to have the pile hauled to the dump. Our reaction was partially based on "heey, we wanted the grill" and partially "the unmitigated gall of the neighbor"

 

[lynxstch]

Why would she have considered that in front of your garage was in the 'public right of way'? She trespassed and she stole, plain and simple

 

[DizneyFamof4]

This is why I do not believe in the "just let it go" philosophy, because people like your neighbor will continue to do this until they are confronted. Technically what they did is stealing, because they came onto your property and took it. What if you had your own grill outside by the garage and they took it, would people still say "let it go"?

 

[sam_gordon]

This is why I do not believe in the "just let it go" philosophy, because people like your neighbor will continue to do this until they are confronted. Technically what they did is stealing, because they came onto your property and took it. What if you had your own grill outside by the garage and they took it, would people still say "let it go"?

In that case, I wouldn't.

A pile of stuff set out, that the neighbor knew was from an eviction? Yea, I'd be willing to. IMO, it's not worth the hassle and the possible future issues.

As far as "trespassing"? Yea, that's the law, but come on. Unless you have "no trespassing" signs (and probably not even then), no one is going to take up a court case for someone walking onto your yard.

 

[leebee]

@china mom, I think you handled it well. Technically, the neighbor can't be annoyed with you for asking her to put the stuff back; there is the legal position to consider, after all. Tell her she need to return the stuff to the pile and you'll let her know when the "waiting period" is over so she can come take what she wants... but hide anything you want to keep before you tell her she can come over!

 

[TheIncredibles!]

What if you wanted it to sell to recoup your costs incurred in your property? Demand it all back or ask her to make you an offer.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

My tenants at my rental were evicted yesterday. The left a huge pile of stuff and we are required by law to remove it in front the house and leave it outside for either 24 or 48 hours (have to look it up) and notify the tenants to come get their stuff. We then have to take the remaining items to the dump - at our expense. We have a quote for $800 for junk removal.

Yesterday, after the eviction, there was a blackstone griddle a large children's playhouse and one of those little tyke cars plus unknown other stuff under the pile of furniture and things. The items were left on the driveway close to the house and we are "in the cut" which is country speak for off the beaten path. Only one neighbor would easily see the stuff and she also knew the eviction was coming.

This morning, the griddle, playhouse, car and who knows what other items are gone but the big pile is still there for us to deal with. My husband can see into the neighbors yard and she has the grill and playhouse. The trash pile has been strewn about and some is on our lawn.

Technically, removing property from an eviction pile is theft but in order to charge theft, we need a complaining victim (one of the tenants). They are gone and I do not know where they went. After the statutory waiting period, eviction property that is left on public property is considered abandoned but this pile was clearly on our curtilage and our property had to be trespassed upon to get it.

We were hoping that if the tenant did not come back for her stuff, that we would at least get a griddle out of it to offset the sting of the eviction expenses. I don't know which model the griddle was but they retail anywhere from $300-1300. The law states that we can sell tenants abandoned property to recover eviction expenses (but we were probably going to keep it).

Would you confront the neighbor? Threaten legal action? Let it go as it is not worth it?

I would not threaten or be confrontational to the neighbor. Instead I'd tell the neighbor the truth. I'd explain to them that's an eviction pile, left on property, not a free take it pile left at the road side and that those evicted still have the right to come back and get em. And if it's not there, well they're going to be sending the law. Furthermore, I was hoping to sell some of this stuff to offset what are going to be the haul away fees.

 

[china mom]

I would not threaten or be confrontational to the neighbor. Instead I'd tell the neighbor the truth. I'd explain to them that's an eviction pile, left on property, not a free take it pile left at the road side and that those evicted still have the right to come back and get em. And if it's not there, well they're going to be sending the law. Furthermore, I was hoping to sell some of this stuff to offset what are going to be the haul away fees.

She knows its an eviction pile. She has been watching the whole show for a couple of weeks now I'm going over tonight. We shall see if anything has shown back up.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

She knows its an eviction pile. She has been watching the whole show for a couple of weeks now I'm going over tonight. We shall see if anything has shown back up.

Well there are people that don't know the difference. Unless you've already told her and you're 100% sure and verified she knows, I'd act like she didn't.

 

[china mom]

Well there are people that don't know the difference. Unless you've already told her and you're 100% sure and verified she knows, I'd act like she didn't.

She knew about the eviction and she is a landlord herself so she should know about putting people out. But is she was at all unsure, she should have left it alone.

 

[fly girl]

I hope the stuff she took is back out on your property. No doubt, it is the right thing for her to do. That's nice of you to let her have the playhouse if she does in fact bring it back.

I think you handled it in the most reasonable way possible. But I agree with others, if stuff doesn't make it back, let it go. Infuriating? Most definitely! But it isn't worth the headache.

Can't wait to read what happens.

 

[china mom]

Update: DH and I pulled up to the house to find the neighbor dropping off the griddle and the house. We were wary of each other's state of mind and circled each other like two cats meeting in an alley. She I initially seemed to have a bit of an attitude. I thanked her for returning the stuff and said that now that the time had elapsed, she could have the playhouse. She made a bid deal about not taking it because she didn't want to be accused of doing anything wrong. We warmed up and she mentioned she might come get it later if it's still there. But she did question what law I was going by as if she still doubted that it was the law.

Oh, yeah, I was wearing my sheriff's department uniform

The griddle is one of the higher end ones but needs rehabbing.

 

[Threehearts]

I was curious about why a griddle is so expensive. Where I live, we use a griddle for 4 small pancakes or perhaps a few burgers.

 

[tvguy]

I'm dying to know more about the griddle. Where I live, a griddle that you would have in your home would cost $30 max. You throw a piece of butter in it and cook up a few beautiful pancakes. Some people like to cook burgers on their griddle but really a frying pan is much less mess.

So what kind of griddle pan is this?

You quoted the wrong person.

 

[Threehearts]

You quoted the wrong person.

So sorry. I'll edit out. I didn't mean to quote anyone but to ask a general question.

 

[fly girl]

@Threehearts, you're thinking of a kitchen griddle pan, this is an outdoor griddle. Looks like a grill, but has a flat griddle surface instead of grill grates.

LIke this: