Abandoned Car On Private Land

[Le Chat]

I am a lettings agent and recently went to a rental property to carry out a final inspection as the tenants had just left and apparently emigrated abroad.
They have left a car (unbelievably) in the driveway.
It is rusted and undriveable.
I now need to get rid of it but don't want to get in trouble for doing wrong somehow.
No reg plates, no tax disc, smashed in at the front.
Anyone any knowledge about the protocol involved?

[andy-hughes]

If the tenants have left the vehicle without advice about its future, I would suggest that the property owner - or yourself on his behalf - are within your rights to dispose of it.

It's unliiely that they are going to chase up its whereabouts since it is obviously junk, and they decided to avoid the cost of its disposal.

Get it towed and scrapped and in the (unlikely) event that they enquire, advise them that you acted in the absence of any advice to the contrary from them.

Comeback - extremely unlikely.

[Mamyalynne]

Current regs mean you should produce documentation when scrapping , but there is every likelihood you can get a local man to shall we say 'overlook' that for you.

[shoota]

Send a letter to any addresses you may have for them giving them a reasonable time to move the car (10 days?), stick a copy on the car and photograph it, keep a copy of the letter and proof of posting.
Then get it towed when you get no response but as mamy says, you may have to persuade a scrappy you have the right to dispose of it.

[TonyV]

As mamy says I'm sure you can get it taken away for scrap, you will have to ask, or contact police if you think it is suspious and ask them

[237SJ]

When this happened to us (car on private garage block) my neighbours and I phoned the police to find out who the car was registered to. It turned out it wasn`t registered to anyone. The police told me that if we pushed it onto the road, the council would have to remove it. Just saying...

[Le Chat]

Thanks for your answers. I think I will get a scrappy to remove it. It can't be driven or pushed, so if we have to pay someone to hitch it up, they may as well dispose of it rather that putting it on the roadside.

[TonyV]

Le chat scrap man should give you some money, or at least take it for free

[tamborine]

As theres no rental payment, its abandoned. Keep receipt for storage/removal in case they claim, or use tenants deposit.

[EDDIE51]

Just phone a scrap man and get it removed, they will not ask for documents for an an obviously abandoned car, you will collect around £120 scrap metal value.

[Old_Geezer]

Sooo.... they've started paying for scrap cars again rather than charging for removal, have they ? Times must be hard.

[EDDIE51]

^^ yes scrap cars are worth at least £75, most are more up to £200.
It depends on the weight. If you want rid of one phone a few 'scrappies' to get the best quote. Do not settle for 'take it away free' you are being ripped off. There will be lots of 'scrap cars wanted' ads in the local paper.

[Davemano]

Some good advice, although if it were me I would notify the police - could have been stolen.

[Davemano]

sorry Tony - missed your 1755 post.