Neighbor issue WWYD?

[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:




View attachment 864531

I have never seen one of those. It looks like a gas grill with a flat top. I'm a chef and have chef friends who have all of the outdoor cooking appliances. I've never seen one of these at their barbecues. If you need a flat cooking surface, they would do that in the kitchen, on the stove. Most of us have flat griddle plates that we can insert on our stoves to get the job done quickly. Now if was a gas grill with grates, that would be outdoor cooking for sure. I'm not a very good grill cook so I may just not be in the know.

Thanks for the photo!

 

[GAN]

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 definitely take it up with the neighbor. They came onto your property? Alternatively, I would go onto their property and take it back.

 

[Crescent_Lake]

edited, below

 

[tvguy]

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

Yikes, did you really want the neighbor to know what you do for a living?

 

[Crescent_Lake]

View attachment 864531

I didn't know this was a thing!
I want one. A new one though, not one off of an eviction heap

 

[brockash]

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?

LET IT GO! What a messy situation all the way around, but let it go. So you evicted them right? I think it's just par for the course. No way would I go around demanding or accusing my other neighbors of stealing the trash from my tenant because I was to sell my old tenants things. Crazy imo.

 

[brockash]

Update: I sent her a message on FB saying she can't take the eviction stuff and that is has to sit out there for a set amount of time. I said bring back what you took and that we could see it in her yard.

She responded asking if there is a spec ail rule in our county because the state says that it is free game.

I responded that the first 24 hours, it is the tenant and then after that it is mine to sell to recoup my expenses. She responded with a thumbs up emoji so I guess she is bringing it back.

If she doesn't, I will let it go. If she does bring everything back, I will let her have the playhouse now that it has been 24 hours.

Wow...how exhausting and dramatic. I can't imagine.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

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.

Good on you

 

[DodgerGirl]

When my parents and I first moved into our old house the landlord had left a bunch of stuff and it was a basketball hoop a trampoline a playhouse and a dog house and when we were moving into our old house the landlord came by to pick up her basketball hoop and the trampoline but when we asked about the playhouse the landlord said it was too big for her to put in her house so that playhouse became Dad's tool shed but the landlord picked up the dog house because she had gotten her kids a new puppy and they needed that dog house for it. What I think you should do is to find out where your tenants moved to and call them and ask if they would like to pick up their stuff at a certain day and time and if you cannot do this try calling your Goodwill or The Salvation Army Thrift Store and see if they can accept donations because I know Goodwill and The Salvation Army accept children's outdoor toys because I would see tons of those Little Tikes cars and those playhouses. You could also try calling preschools in your area and ask if the school will accept the car and the playhouse too. Because when I went to school some of our toys were donated to the school for the kids to use
Good luck China Mom and hope this advice helps you a lot
Dodger

 

[china mom]

Yikes, did you really want the neighbor to know what you do for a living?

I used to be a police officer for a different jurisdiction when I lived there and she knew what I did then and she knew I had retired. What I don't think she knew was that I am now a civilian with the local Sheriff's department. She hates police, BTW. Her father was a deputy with the agency I work for now and she has major daddy issues and issues with law enforcement in general.

I didn't have a choice of attire, though. I had to work late and then go straight over to meet with my landscaper.

 

[china mom]

LET IT GO! What a messy situation all the way around, but let it go. So you evicted them right? I think it's just par for the course. No way would I go around demanding or accusing my other neighbors of stealing the trash from my tenant because I was to sell my old tenants things. Crazy imo.

It is a combination of us wanting the griddle but also being annoyed at the gall of them coming onto our property and helping themselves after years of issues back when we lived next to them.

We used to hang out a bit despite having very different lifestyles and morals but we had a huge falling out when her 14 year old son gave my 10 year old son drugs. She wasn't happy when I called the local Sheriffs office on him. We put our house on the market the following week and when it didn't sell, we turned it into a rental.

So, there is some history there.

 

[china mom]

When my parents and I first moved into our old house the landlord had left a bunch of stuff and it was a basketball hoop a trampoline a playhouse and a dog house and when we were moving into our old house the landlord came by to pick up her basketball hoop and the trampoline but when we asked about the playhouse the landlord said it was too big for her to put in her house so that playhouse became Dad's tool shed but the landlord picked up the dog house because she had gotten her kids a new puppy and they needed that dog house for it. What I think you should do is to find out where your tenants moved to and call them and ask if they would like to pick up their stuff at a certain day and time

My tenants aren't going to tell me where they live. That would make it too easy for me to serve them I'm still racking up bills as I get the house back in shape but they owe me at least $6K in back rent plus court fees, cleaning, carpet shampoo and some repairs. I had to pay movers on eviction day and now movers to haul stuff to the dump. Nope, they will be hiding from me. But, my property manager did give them a "last call" email even though they were well aware of eviction day.

and if you cannot do this try calling your Goodwill or The Salvation Army Thrift Store and see if they can accept donations because I know Goodwill and The Salvation Army accept children's outdoor toys because I would see tons of those Little Tikes cars and those playhouses.

We are very rural. The one place that will pick up furniture donation will schedule it about a month out. I need to turn the house right away because I have a mortgage to pay.

You could also try calling preschools in your area and ask if the school will accept the car and the playhouse too. Because when I went to school some of our toys were donated to the school for the kids to use

I did tell my landscaper to take what he wanted before the truck comes this morning. He said he was going to come back and take two large dressers that are in pretty good shape. I love my landscaper. He is a very hard worker and if I can help him out, it makes me happy.

Good luck China Mom and hope this advice helps you a lot
Dodger

Thanks.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

IIRC you have had issues with prior tenants in the past, you've been stressed out and frustrated with your experiences with being a landlord and affronted by people's reactions towards what you charge/increase for rent, you've felt upset at having to make repairs to properties (in cases of both tenant created and wear and tear as well as upgrades), etc.

Honestly? I think you're making a situation more stressful on yourself than need be. Do I think there could be both a presumption of junk as well as taking advantage of the situation by the neighbor? Yes I do think so. But the fact that you created this thread asking what you should do but just went ahead and sent a FB message telling the neighbor she can't have the stuff tells me that's what you wanted to do from the beginning (so why create the thread?)

Some of your comments are coming off like you're looking for a fight (metaphorically or physically I'm not sure). You start with asking if you should confront the neighbor, threaten legal action with the neighbor then move on to talk about criminal charges then move on to mentioned you had on your sheriff's department uniform (which could be construed as a threatening action on your behalf towards the neighbor as if you're trying to use your position for something). And all this because you wanted to sell some things but not other things? I mean I get it, I'm all about following things by law but the more you say and describe it's like geez maybe the neighbor was in the wrong legally speaking but maybe you are too in how you're handling it/looking at it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It is a combination of us wanting the griddle but also being annoyed at the gall of them coming onto our property and helping themselves after years of issues back when we lived next to them.

We used to hang out a bit despite having very different lifestyles and morals but we had a huge falling out when her 14 year old son gave my 10 year old son drugs. She wasn't happy when I called the local Sheriffs office on him. We put our house on the market the following week and when it didn't sell, we turned it into a rental.

So, there is some history there.

If that went to court I think the neighbor could have a case for describing retaliatory action on your behalf . Like I don't think the neighbor would come off scot free in the legal system but if there's prior bad blood between neighbors and you go in with what you've described you're not necessarily going to come off like you're doing things impartially.

This is more like a "Fear Thy Neighbor" episode and if you've watched those types of shows it tends to be a "it takes two to tango" more than one might think.

 

[ronandannette]

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.

Nicely played.

 

[robinb]

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

LOL. BTW, I'm digging your new avatar.

 

[robinb]

I have never seen one of those. It looks like a gas grill with a flat top. I'm a chef and have chef friends who have all of the outdoor cooking appliances. I've never seen one of these at their barbecues. If you need a flat cooking surface, they would do that in the kitchen, on the stove. Most of us have flat griddle plates that we can insert on our stoves to get the job done quickly. Now if was a gas grill with grates, that would be outdoor cooking for sure. I'm not a very good grill cook so I may just not be in the know.

Thanks for the photo!

I have a friend whose husband is Mexican. He absolutely adores his outdoor gas griddle. IIRC he was one of the last of his friends and family to get one so I think it's pretty popular in the Mexican community.

 

[china mom]

IIRC you have had issues with prior tenants in the past, you've been stressed out and frustrated with your experiences with being a landlord and affronted by people's reactions towards what you charge/increase for rent, you've felt upset at having to make repairs to properties (in cases of both tenant created and wear and tear as well as upgrades), etc.

I run four rental houses. Three are great and you have never heard me mention them here because, frankly, there has ben noting to report. I have had awesome tenants in the two long term rentals. This particular house has been nicknamed "the bad luck house" by my husband and I. I am putting it on the market as soon as I get it cleaned up and I will be done with it.

I have NEVER complained about repairing normal wear and tear. I have explained, when asked, that landlords do have to budget for normal wear and tear and that is part of why rent is higher than our mortgages. We need a cushion so that we can keep our houses nice and provide a good product for our tenants. Likewise, I have never complained about the cost of upgrades. I am about to spend $20K on the short term rental and have not even winced.

I do complain about tenants willfully damaging property.

I am defensive on behalf of myself and other landlords because we face a lot of criticism and accusations of greed when many of us are just trying to provide a good product and make a little profit, like any other business model.

Honestly? I think you're making a situation more stressful on yourself than need be. Do I think there could be both a presumption of junk as well as taking advantage of the situation by the neighbor? Yes I do think so. But the fact that you created this thread asking what you should do but just went ahead and sent a FB message telling the neighbor she can't have the stuff tells me that's what you wanted to do from the beginning (so why create the thread?)

I messaged the neighbor after a few posters here encouraged me. But, there are lots of threads created on this board that are just about having conversations and interacting with others. I did want to confront her but wanted a little validation that I wasn't just being petty. Of course, some will think I am petty and some felt that confrontation was called for.

Some of your comments are coming off like you're looking for a fight (metaphorically or physically I'm not sure). You start with asking if you should confront the neighbor, threaten legal action with the neighbor then move on to talk about criminal charges

I was posting about my possible options - one of which, you failed to mention - was to let it go and not say anything.

then move on to mentioned you had on your sheriff's department uniform (which could be construed as a threatening action on your behalf towards the neighbor as if you're trying to use your position for something).

I did not plan on seeing her at the residence. I went straight from work, wearing my work clothes, hoping that she had returned the items but not anticipating running into her. I actually did NOT want to see her as I knew it would be as awkward as it was. I neither threatened nor intimidated her not did I try to use my position for anything. I did mention it in my update only because I thought it added tot he story a little.

And all this because you wanted to sell some things but not other things? I mean I get it, I'm all about following things by law but the more you say and describe it's like geez maybe the neighbor was in the wrong legally speaking but maybe you are too in how you're handling it/looking at it.

Legally, the neighbor was in the wrong. Ethically, the neighbor was in the wrong. The items belonged to either me or the departing tenant, depending on the exact time they were actually removed from my property. My motivations should not matter in any way but I accept that you do not approve.

 

[china mom]

If that went to court I think the neighbor could have a case for describing retaliatory action on your behalf . Like I don't think the neighbor would come off scot free in the legal system but if there's prior bad blood between neighbors and you go in with what you've described you're not necessarily going to come off like you're doing things impartially.

This is more like a "Fear Thy Neighbor" episode and if you've watched those types of shows it tends to be a "it takes two to tango" more than one might think.

You are amusing me now. Retaliatory for what? Her son got my 10 year old high in 2011. I called the Sheriff's office who responded, confiscated the CDS paraphernalia and interviewed her son about who he bought the drugs from. noting happened after that except I would not let my son sleep over there anymore and we stopped socializing. Never was a cross word said between us. I moved out six months later. When we saw each other on the street, we were pleasant. Since the house became a rental, she has messaged me to point out various behaviors by my tenants. I responded pleasantly and sometimes addressed it and sometimes ignored her complaint because it was frivolous. So, again, who is retaliating for what?

In the eye of the court (and I do have somewhat experience with courts) any case I bought would be black and white.

But funny you bring up "Fear my neighbor" I currently am sitting about 15 feet from evidence from one of the cases profiled in one of the episodes. That is a cute coincidence.

 

[china mom]

LOL. BTW, I'm digging your new avatar.

Thank you