Stored Items On My Property

[Explorer-8]

Ten years ago, I had a friend who asked me if he could store his WW1-era aeroplane engine parts in my garage which I allowed. He said he wanted to sell them on eBay. They are still there. There is a suitcase of clothes which he asked me to store too. I haven't heard from him for two years, so I would like to know where I stand legally with regard to giving most of the items away. I could give the clothes to charity, give most of the aeroplane parts to the rag and bone man, and sell the propellers. Is this legal?

[knockavacca]

Why not just ask him/her to remove them

[murraymints]

have you asked your friend to take them away ?

[Islay]

I believe you have to give him notice to remove his items or you will dispose of them as you see fit.
Otherwise it could be seen as theft as you gave him permission to store them at your property.

[fiction-factory]

Write to him at his last known address and give him aaaaaaa reasonable period of notice that he needs to collect them or give instructions within X weeks or you will dispose of them. If he has moved and not told you that's his fault not yours

[Buenchico]

The Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 applies:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1977/32

If you've made reasonable attempts to contact the owner of the property you're entitled to sell it but you're obliged to seek the best price for it and hand over the money (less any expenses you've incurred) if your friend turns up again.

While this refers to landlords and tenants, it still provides excellent advice on your own situation:
http://www.landlordlegalsolutions.co.uk/cms/document/Guide_to_tenants_possessions_left_at_property__LLS_.pdf

[Peter Pedant]

great war plane parts are quite valuable arent they ?

no you cant just chuck them away
try to contact him
and if you are gonna sell the parts keep records

[kvalidir]

Yeah please don't scrap the WWI plane parts- those are of some historic value if not financial value- at the very least contact some interested groups and let them have them, don't just bin them that's evil :(

[Explorer-8]

Thanks for all your advice. What I could do is send him a letter telling him that I will send the aeroplane parts to an auction house to be sold. I could get a valuer to look at them first. I could send him a cheque if he agrees, but he doesn't have an account of his own. He has to ask for blank cheques then puts the money in a friend's account. Is this a good idea? Over the years I have asked him to take his suitcase of clothes, but it just upset him when I mentioned it.

[Old_Geezer]

After ten years he could tolerate a little upset. Can't reasonably expect you to store them until you die. He's not even paying storage fees.

[atalanta]

I had almost exactly this problem after a lodger left. I took the advice of the Citizens Advice Bureau, who said that if all attempts to contact the owner failed, I could sell anything which had a value, and give away the rest. You might be expected to hang onto the proceeds for no more than 2 years and be ready to hand over the value of what you sold. But after two years without contact you can consider the items abandoned. Actually, if the owner does turn up, you can tell him you will charge him rent on the garage space. Best advice - send message/email/letter to last known address, send ultimatum of 6 weeks, then dispose of stuff.