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Farm Tenants Abandoned Property, Years Ago, When/how Does It Become Mine?

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Location: New York State. I rented a portion of farmland to new farmers for multiple years. Eventually they moved operations somewhere better suited to their needs. But they left a number of things behind, including a large shed, storage containers, bulky agricultural supplies, even some bee hives. The shed is large but on skids so it is technically moveable, albeit thousands of dollars to hire a 3rd party to move it off site.

The last year we had a lease together is already 3+ years ago at this point. I notified them in text the need for them to move stuff out in case I sell or lease the land again, and they've acknowledged the need but haven't done anything. It's been fallow all this time but I'm planning to work with that land again.

Is the property they left behind mine now? Intuitively it seems like my problem to deal with, and therefore it's my cost to bare or property to use as I see fit. I imagine if I wanted I could take them to small claims court over costs of cleanup / shed moving, but I have no intention of making their lives harder. I'm pretty sure they've abandoned all this out of necessity, as their time and money is so spread thin. Still, I was a relatively generous landlord and have given them years to sort out what they left. Leaving beehives behind is particularly upsetting to me, they essentially abandoned livestock.

Our lease, now long expired, doesn't say what happens in this case. If they defaulted it just says how they'd get evicted, be responsible for legal fees, etc. The most relevant clause in my non lawyer view is the following:

Waste. To prevent waste on, or damage to, the Land and will use due care to prevent others from so doing. Working, storage, digging or packaging material or equipment shall only be left about the Land on a temporary basis in accordance with normal agricultural practices. In no event is dumping permitted on the Land or adjoining property.

So in my view they basically "dumped" storage bins, livestock equipment and hives, shed, etc.

Anyone have more clarity about this? Basically I'm trying to get some validation before I try to close out this past tenancy completely. I'll offer them a last shot at hauling their stuff away, giving them this season to do it (they've already had years worth of notice and requests), and after that I'll consider the property mine to deal with as its de facto new owner. Putting all that in writing so they've got clear warning. Then I'd have a local beekeeper remove the hives and I'd change locks on the shed, sell off or donate remaining supplies. Am I asking for trouble? What am I supposed to do, it's a lot of stuff and I'm in no position to donate them moving fees.

submitted by /u/ElementreeCr0
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