It is said that there are three sides to every story
20 Years ago I bought a piece of property that looks a little bit like this. It was and is beautiful, remote, lots of trees, rivers, and mountains. The above image isn't the property but the image is mine and representative of what my property would look like if you could look down on it.
I bought the money with money I inherited when my Grandfather died. I thought it would be an awesome place to take my young children for wilderness camping and to explore nature.
Unfortunately raising children is more time consuming and expensive that I had thought and those camping trips never arrived.
However, I still liked to visit the property every now and then because it was very beautiful.
After owning the property for about 8 years I went up to visit it one summer. It was as beautiful as ever although getting a little overgrown with trees. I was about to walk around the property when my neighbor Paul walked up and wanted to talk to me for a little bit.
He asked if I was going to be moving up to the property and developing it. He was excited at the prospect of having a new neighbor....
..... but the reason for his excitement made me very sad.
It seems that during the summer teenagers would throw parties on my property knowing that it was a "vacant" lot. They would leave garbage, start fires, and generally be a nuisance.
In addition to that my neighbor told me that hunters had come to the property a few times. The most recent time they had shot and wounded a bear but were too lazy to finish the job. A wounded bear thrashed in pain for a week. It lashed out at trees and made horrible groaning noises for a long time before it died.
I looked for any possible solution.
I considered selling the property but it was a remembrance of my Grandfather so how could I sell?
Someone was hoping to find a place where they could live in return for them providing labour. They were looking for a farm.
Well, I didn't have a farm but I certainly had space! I reached out to them and we chatted for a couple of years trying to come up with a plan. Lots of ideas were shared and in the end we reached an agreement that they would come to my property and act as developer and caretaker.
In the end we came up with a following plan:
Part ONE
The prospective caretaker would come up and stay on the property for one summertime. Three months to see the property, see if they liked it, see if they wanted to work on it, and generally see if it would be suitable.
Part TWO
If the prospective caretaker DID want to stay and work on the land they would be given a two year stay to setup and try working as a caretaker. The land was rough and I didn't think anyone would want to stay but sometimes you don't know until you try.
Part THREE
The prospective caretaker would become an actual caretaker. They would occupy the land will free range to clear paths, build structures, plant crops and work towards developing it into a Co-Op where many people could come and grow crops and enjoy the forest.
The six year plan was to develop a Co-Op where the caretakers could become Co-Op members and turn the property into their home.
However, there were strict wordings that if after SIX years they didn't work towards a Co-Op, if they didn't improve the land, or if they ruined the natural beauty then they would be evicted and get nothing.
Over the years we were asked to help the caretakers.
Opening the property for farming allowed wind to come to the property so they complained about trees falling near them.
Once the electricity was there they used it without paying for the electrictity for months.
After 8 years on the property this is what it looked like.
My neighbor said it was like living by a homeless camp with garbage everywhere. They were also very upset that the caretakers would run their generator until very late at night keeping them awake.
I still wanted caretakers there but I told them that I would be retiring soon and would be sharing the property with them. I was measuring to find a place for a home for myself. Looking at what I could plant and where. I also told them that they would be welcome to stay and we could rework the agreement but they would have tidy their place.
At the time they were also renting out two old RV's to others on their property. I didn't mind them doing that BUT if they were collecting rent on the property I wanted a portion....after all I owned the land!
I had an agreement that at the end of six years they would return the property to me if there was no Co-Op and that any improvement would return to me.
I was willing to work with them but they were unwilling to make any changes to their lifestyle.
When I wanted to exert my authority as Landowner and enforce the contract they agreed to they threatened to take me to court because I was unfair.
Getting rid of tenants in Canada can be a huge, expensive, and long legal battle. Getting rid of occupants is much easier but figuring out if they are tenants of occupants can get tricky.
In the end I had to hire a lawyer and pay them thousands of dollars to leave and take their belongings with them.
Out of spite they went to great lengths to remove anything valuable on the property
They cut down the tree which held the satellite dish for internet....and cut it in four pieces to be certain I couldn't use it again.
They removed a boardwalk that allowed for access to the beautiful marshland.
In short....
...... A beautiful plan turned to a horrible experience.
I lost so many years giving them a chance. I gave them full access to 56 acres of property. I gave them financial help when they needed it. I tried to fund property upgrades they couldn't afford.
However, rather than a thank you I got a slap in the face and complaints.
Now I'm a lot older and I hope a lot wiser. I'll be moving to the property with my wife to do the work I asked them to do. I hope I never see them again and the legal settlement with them means I never should...although I hear rumors that they are squatting illegally in a provincial park nearby.
I do wish them all the best in their future and I try very hard not to hold any bad feelings towards them. But there is always a bit of regret at such a great idea turning so sour.
There are always other sides of the story and I'm sure they would tell a scathing tale of a landlord out for more cash who broke his promises. They would tell that I didn't tell all the facts (because there is a lot more to tell after 9 years!).
However, I've told my story as truthfully as I can.
.... and I'll let God decide what the true story really is.
Thanks for reading
and feel free to leave comments or feedback.
I always love the feedback!
